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Apr 5, 2023 · These symbols include the parasol, the golden fish, the conch shell, the lotus flower, the vase, the banner, the wheel, and the knot of eternity. Each symbol has its own meaning and represents a different aspect of the Buddha’s teachings. Over time, Buddhist symbols have become more than just religious icons.
- The Dharma Wheel
- The Endless Knot
- The Lotus Flower
- The Treasure Vase
- Two Golden Fish
- The Conch Shell
- The Bell
- The Bodhi Tree
- The Buddha’s Eyes
- The Begging Bowl
One of the most ancient and well-known Buddhist symbols, the dharma wheel is symbolic of Buddha’s teachings. In Sanskrit, it is known as ‘Dharmachakra’ or the wheel of truth/law. Just like the cross represents Christianity, today the dharma wheel can be seen as a representation of the Buddhist religion. It is usually made of eight spokes which are ...
As its name suggests, the endless knot has no beginning or end. This detailed design consists of intertwined lines that twist from above and beneath each other and turn into a gorgeous pattern. It is known to be symbolic of many different things and has various significations. For starters, it symbolizes birth, deathand rebirth. Apart from that, it...
The Lotus Flower is another popular Buddhist symbol. It can often be seen in Buddhist paintings and scriptures. The ideology behind this symbol is that, as it grows in ponds it has to go through the mud and dirt to eventually reach the surface. No matter how murky the waters are, it still grows and blossoms into the most beautiful of flowers. Becau...
This ancient object originated in India many years ago. It is also known as the vase of inexhaustible treasures’. If you’re wondering how it looks, it’s a round vase with a short and thin neck, which is sometimes decorated with a jewel. Buddhists believed that the vase could bring happiness, wealth, and good health along with abundanceand that it w...
A popular Buddhist symbol that has various representations, the two golden fish consist of a male and female. The fish are portrayed to be standing with their heads facing each other. This interesting symbol emerged before Buddhism, so you can only imagine how ancient it is. It first appeared as a portrayal of two sacred rivers in India the Ganga a...
This beautiful white shell has a great deal of significance in the Buddhist tradition. It is one of the major Buddhist symbols and has a variety of meanings. It is normally placed in a vertical position and has a silk ribbon around it. In Buddhism, this shell is symbolic of the fearlessness of teaching the truth of working purely for the benefit of...
The bell is a symbol popular not just in Buddhism but in Christianity as well. In Buddhism however, it holds a different meaning. The sound of the bell is symbolic of the voice of Buddha and his teachings and it also depicts wisdomand empathy. It is used to approach the higher beings for protectionto keep away evil spirits. You must have noticed, l...
Also referred to as the ‘Tree of Awakening’, the Bodhi tree is a sacred symbol in Buddhism. Bodhi literally translates into ‘enlightenment’. It is essentially a large fig tree under which Buddha attained Nirvana or spiritual awakening. Therefore, it is symbolic of Buddha’s awakening. Though the original is located in Bodh Gaya India, lots of Buddhi...
A popular symbol in Buddhism is the Buddha’s eyes. They comprise a pair of eyes, a dot between the eyes, and a curly shape. The symbolism behind this is that the Lord is always watching and his presence is not limited. This is why you will usually see them on all four sides of a Buddhist shrine. The two eyes represent the potential to see reality o...
The begging bowl is important for the life of a Buddhist monk. How it works is that the monks simply live off what is put in the bowl by ordinary people. They go from the monastery to the village every morning and what is given in the bowl is all that they live off. It is because of this, that the bowl is a representation of the life of Buddhist mo...
- Endless Knot. The endless or eternal knot is an intricate design with no beginning or end. As such, it represents the continuum of mind or Buddha’s infinite wisdom and compassion.
- Lotus Flower. For Buddhists, the precious lotus flower represents the pure potential of the human mind or only purity. The lotus flower is a famous Buddhists symbol because it prompts reflection on how the lotus grows and its similarities to the path they must take to reach Nirvana.
- Two Golden fish. In a way, the two golden fish signifies good luck. It also teaches that if one practices the teachings of the Buddha, one can live in a state of fearlessness or courage.
- Banner of Victory. The victory banner, known as Dhvaja, was first used to represent the victory of Buddha over Mara, the demon that represented the fear of death, pride, passion, and lust.
The earliest Buddhist art is from the Mauryan era (322 BCE – 184 BCE), there is little archeological evidence for pre-Mauryan period symbolism. [6] Early Buddhist art (circa 2nd century BCE to 2nd century CE) is commonly (but not exclusively) aniconic (i.e. lacking an anthropomorphic image), and instead used various symbols to depict the Buddha.
However, there are 8 specific symbols, which are essential to Buddhism in general. It’s even said that these represent the gifts, which God gave Buddha when he attained enlightenment: the umbrella, the goldfish, the vase, the lotus flower, the conch shell, the eternal knot, the victory banner and the Wheel of Dharma.
Om (Aum) Buddhist Symbol. Om, also written as Aum, is a syllable that originated from Hinduism but is common to Buddhism and other religions. It is a a sacred sound sometimes referred to as the sound of the universe. The AUM (Om) consists of three characters, A, U, and M. They represent the body, spirit and speech of the Buddha.
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The form of Buddhism found in Tibet in called ‘Vajyarana’, or ‘The Diamond Vehicle’, while one of the most important Mahayana sutras is The Diamond Sutra, or Vajracchedika. The Jewel The central Buddhist ideals ideals are the Three Jewels because, in every culture, jewels are considered the most precious of all substances.
