Tibetan New Year Festival is going to be celebrated from February 12 to 14 in 2021. Here, on the occasion of Losar, I reproduce an article of mine titled "Tibetan Buddhist symbols and their religious and spiritual significance" to highlight the spirituality of Buddhism.
Earlier the article was published in Merinews portal and later picked up by Buddhist Channel portal for dissemination.
The article goes as follows:
Every religion has some simple visual symbols to represent itself and convey its essence. There are eight Tibetan Buddhist symbols representing the essence of the religion. Often, these symbols are used as wall painting or floor paintings on the occasion of religious festivals on ceremonies.
The eight symbols of Tibetan Buddhism that are drawn on the house walls like mandanas on the eve of Losar - the Tibetan New Year - are said to be auspicious and keep the evil spirits away. Therefore, the drawing these religious symbols of Buddhism on special occasions is considered good omen.
From time to time, various Buddhist symbolic innovations were introduced but they got formalized as eight symbols called Ashtamangala or eight auspicious symbols as domestic and public art on religious occasions with esoteric meaning, religious connotations and life values.
However, the Ashtamangala symbols spread with Buddhism to the art of many cultures and countries, including Indian, Tibetan, Nepalese, and Chinese art.
The eight auspicious symbols of Tibetan Buddhism are lotus flower; endless knot; golden fish pair; victory banner; wheel of dharma; treasure vase; parasol; and conch shell. For example, lotus flower, wheel and conch with religious meanings are used in Hinduism too.
In Tibetan Buddhism, the visual symbols that represent religious or spiritual development are lotus flower, endless knot, wheel of Dharma and conch shell representing purity and enlightenment; eternal harmony; knowledge and thoughts of Buddha respectively. On the other hand, the golden fish pair, victory banner, treasure vase and parasol represent worldly success and stand for conjugal happiness, overcoming barriers and obstacles; prosperity and good luck.
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