The Eight Auspicious Symbols are one of the most common, yet very popular in the Vajrayana Buddhism or Tibetan Buddhism and culture for over thousands of years.
The Eight Auspicious Symbols are traditionally offered to Lama, teachers during long life ceremonies and are used in various forms of ritual art. It is believed that each of the Tibetan symbols represents one aspect of the Buddha’s teachings and when appearing all together their powers are multiplied.
1. Right-Coiled White Conch Shell
2. Precious Parasol
3. Victory Banner
4. Golden Fishes
5. Dharma Wheel
6. Endless Knot
7. Lotus Flower
8. Treasure Vase
These eight symbols of good fortune represent the offerings made by the Gods, and Brahma to Shakyamuni Buddha immediately after he attained enlightenment.
What do the eight symbols of Buddhism mean?
In Buddhism, these eight symbols of good fortune represent the offerings made by the gods to Shakyamuni Buddha immediately.
The Dharma wheel in Tibetan is known as "kore-low". The Golden Wheel, or Dharma Wheel, symbolises the auspiciousness of the turning of the precious wheel of Buddha's doctrine, both in its teachings and realisations, in all realms and at all times, enabling beings to experience the joy of wholesome deeds and liberation.
This golden wheel is also called the Dharma chakra or the Dhamma chakka and is often used to represent Buddha himself. It has also universally become a symbol of Buddhism. The Dharma wheel has eight spokes, which represent Buddha’s Eightfold Path.
What is the Dharma Wheel, or Dharmachakra?
The Wheel of the Law (Dharmachakra) is the single most important symbol of Buddhism, denoting the Buddha's First Sermon in the forest at Sarnath, where he set Buddhist Law (Dharma) in motion.
The Dharma wheel, or Dharmachakra in Sanskrit, is one of the oldest symbols of Buddhism. Around the globe, it is used to represent Buddhism in the same way that a cross represents Christianity or a Star of David represents Judaism. It is also one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism. Similar symbols are found in Jainism and Hinduism.
Who invented Dharmachakra?
Symbolic history. When Gautama Buddha, After achieving enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, he came to Sarnath. There, he found his five disciples, Assaji, Mahanaman, Kondanna, Bhaddiya, and Vappa, who had earlier abandoned him. He introduced his first teachings to them, thereby establishing the Dharmachakra.
A traditional Dharma wheel is a chariot wheel with varying numbers of spokes. It can be any colour, although it is most often gold. At the centre, there may be three shapes swirling together: a yin-yang symbol, a second wheel, or an empty circle.
Dharma Wheel - The Ashoka Chakra (2/2)
Among the oldest existing examples of a dharma wheel are found on the pillars erected by Ashoka the Great (304–232 B.C.E.), an emperor who ruled much of what is now India and beyond. Ashoka was a great patron of Buddhism and encouraged its spread, although he never forced it on his subjects.
Ashoka erected enormous stone pillars throughout his kingdom, many of which are still standing. The pillars contain edicts, some of which encourage people to practise Buddhist morality and nonviolence. There is typically at least one lion on the top of each pillar, representing Ashoka's rule. The pillars are also decorated with 24-spoke dharma wheels.
Sometimes the Dharma wheel is presented in a tableau, supported on a lotus flower pedestal with two deer, a buck, and a doe on either side. This recalls the first sermon given by the historical Buddha after his enlightenment. The sermon is said to have been given to five mendicants in Sarnath, a deer park in what is now Uttar Pradesh, India.
According to Buddhist legend, the park was home to a herd of ruru deer, and the deer gathered around to listen to the sermon. The deer depicted by the Dharma wheel reminds us that the Buddha taught to save all beings, not just humans. In some versions of this story, the deer are emanations of Bodhisattvas.
Typically, when the dharma wheel is represented with deer, the wheel must be twice the height of the deer. The deer are shown with legs folded under them, gazing serenely at the wheel with their noses lifted. 
Turning the Dharma Wheel -Turning the Dharma wheel" is a metaphor for the Buddha's teaching of the dharma in the world. In Mahayana Buddhism, it is said the Buddha turned the dharma wheel three times.
The first turning was the sermon in the deer park, after the Buddha's enlightenment. Here, the Buddha explained the Four Noble Truths. The second turning was the introduction of the perfection of wisdom teachings on the nature of sunyata (emptiness). The third turning was the introduction of the doctrine of Buddha Nature.
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Aspiration For Bodhichitta
For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen
May it arise and not decrease.
But increase further and further.
Dedication of Merit
By this merit, may we then obtain omniscience then.
Having defeated the enemies wrongdoings
May we liberate migratory from the ocean of existence.
With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness, and death.
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