Buddhist Beliefs

There are eight Symbols For Buddhism. These refer to as the eight auspicious symbols.

The Conch Shell; this is a symbol for power, authority and sovereignty. When blown it is believed to banish evil spirits and scare away poisonous creatures and avert natural disasters. Nowadays the conch is used in Tibetan Buddhism to call together religious assemblies. During the practice of rituals it is used both as a musical instrument and as a vessel for holy water.

Vajrayana Buddhism used the conch as a symbol which fearlessly proclaimed the truth of dharma. Among the eight symbols the conch also stands for the fame of the Buddha’s teaching, which spreads in all directions like the sound of the conch trumpet.

A Lotus; This symbol is one of Buddhism’s most recognized. It is very important because every deity is associated with the lotus in some manner, either sitting upon one or holding one in their hands.

A Wheel; A wheel consists of three main parts, the hub, the rim and eight spokes. Its underlying form is a circle which is a complete and perfect in itself, qualities which inform the teachings of Buddha. Individually the rim represents the element of limitation, the hub the axis of the world and the eight spokes denote the Eightfold Path, which leads to the overcoming of all suffering.

The Parasol; parasols represents the dome of the world. The parasol is carried above an important dignitary or the image of a deity to indicate that the person or symbol below the parasol is the centre of the universe. Parasols also depict spiritual support. Parasols are very important in processional rites and are often seen to as mobile temples; depictions of Buddha often show an elaborate and large parasol over his head.

An Endless Knot; The knot has no beginning or end and symbolizes the infinite wisdom of the Buddha. It also symbolizes that all phenomena are interrelated and the placing of an endless knot on a greeting card is understood to establish an auspicious connection between the giver and the receiver. The endless knot represents a connection with our fates, binding us to our karmic destiny.

A Pair of Golden Fishes; These represent happiness, as they have complete freedom in water. They are also the symbol of fertility and abundance. Buddha is known as a ‘fisher of men’ who saves mortals from the ocean of suffering.

The Victory Banner; the victory banner was adopted as a symbol of the Buddha’s enlightenment, showing the triumph of knowledge over ignorance.

A Treasure Vase; In Buddhism the Treasure vase symbolizes the spiritual abundance of Buddha, a treasure that never diminished no matter how much he gave away.