The Eight Auspicious Symbols of Vajrayana - Victory Banner

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.

Eight Auspicious Symbols in the Sanskrit word is  "Ashtamangala". In the Tibetan language is known as "Tashee-tag-gyay" The Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism is a genre of Buddhist symbolism. The symbols derive from Indian iconography and have become especially popular in Tibetan Buddhism. 

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. 

In this fascinating study,the Eight Auspicious Symbols are as follows:-

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 after he gained enlightenment.

3. Victory Banner 

"Gyel-tsen" in the Tibetan word. The victory banner stands for the complete victory of the Buddhist doctrine over all harmful and pernicious forces, death, ignorance, and all the negativities of this world. The roofs of Tibetan monasteries are often decorated with victory banners of different shapes and sizes.

The victory banner symbolises the victory of one's own and others bodies, speech, and mind over obstacles and negativity. It also stands for the complete victory of the Buddhist Doctrine over all harmful and pernicious forces.

What is the victory banner's auspicious symbol?

In Tibetan Buddhism, the victory banner, also an auspicious symbol, symbolises eleven methods for overcoming some defilements. They are the development of knowledge, wisdom, compassion, meditation, and ethical vows. Also, taking refuge in the Buddha, abandoning false views, and generating spiritual aspiration.

What is the victory banner in Tibetan?

Kundadhvaja; (Tibetan: rgyal mtshan) represents "victory over all disagreement, disharmony, or obstacles, and the attainment of happiness, both temporary and ultimate."

In Sanskrit, the banner or sign of victory is known as the Dhvaja, meaning standard, flag, or sign.

Originally, the victory banner was a military standard carried in ancient Indian warfare and bore the specific insignia of its champion.

The victory banner was adopted by early Buddhism as an emblem of the Buddha's enlightenment, heralding the triumph of knowledge over ignorance. It is said to have been placed on the summit of Mt. Meru by Buddha himself, symbolizing his victory over the entire universe. Again, Mount Meru is believed to be the central axis supporting the world.

The flag of victory also denotes Buddha's triumph over Mara, who personifies hindrances on the path to spiritual realisation. Specifically, there are said to be four types of Maras, each representing an individual hurdle on the path to spiritual progress. These are:

1. The Mara of Emotional Defilement
2. Mara of Passion
3. Mara of the Fear of Death
4. Mara of Pride and Lust

It was only after conquering these four negative traits that Buddha could proclaim victory over ignorance and achieve nirvana.

Cylindrical victory banners made of beaten copper are traditionally placed at the four corners of monastery and temple roofs. These signify the Buddha's victorious Dharma radiating to the four directions and also his triumph over the four Maras mentioned above. 

As a symbol of the Buddha's victory over the four maras, the early Buddhists adopted Kamadeva's emblem of the crocodile-headed makaradhvaja, and four of these banners were erected in the cardinal directions surrounding the enlightenment stupa of the Tathagata, or Buddha. Similarly, the gods elected to place a banner of victory on the summit of Mt. Meru to honour the Buddha as the "Conqueror" (Sankrit. jina) who vanquished the armies of Mara.

Within the Tibetan tradition,a list of eleven different forms of the victory banner is given to represent eleven specific methods for overcoming defilements. Many variations of the banner's design can be seen on monastery and temple roofs, where four banners are commonly placed at the roof's corners to symbolise the Buddha's victory over the four maras.

As a hand-held ensign, the victory banner is an attribute of many deities, particularly those associated with wealth and power, such as Vaishravana, the Great Guardian King of the North, Jambhala, Kubera, and many others.

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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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