In Buddhism and Hinduism, the chatra symbol – also called the “precious parasol” and the “sacred umbrella” – is a symbol of kingship/royalty and protection. It is one of the Ashtamangala or the Eight Auspicious Signs denoting the Noble Eight-fold Path or dharmachakra in Vajrayana Buddhism. Chatra Symbol – History And Meaning The chatra symbol…
The triratna symbol has been around since the ancient India. It is found in ancient Buddhist caves; in the toranas or great gates of Sanchi; and in historical coins of Buddhist kingdoms that have existed in the Indian subcontinent. Triratna Symbol – History and Meaning The triratna symbol represents the three jewels of Buddhism: the…
Trishula is a spear or trident, a divine symbol used as one of the primary symbols in Hinduism. This symbol is associated with Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction. Shiva’s trishula is the three-pointed spear or trident that he carries. In India and Thailand, the term “trishula” is also used to refer to a short-handled…
Looking for Buddhist symbols and their meanings? Read on to find out what these symbols mean. Buddhism is a religion originated from India based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha. It originated from Sramana tradition between 4th and 6th centuries BCE. Buddhism is the 4th largest religion with over 500 million followers, mostly coming from…
Padma is the Hindu name for the iconic lotus flower, which is a very important symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, as well as Jainism and Sikhism. It generally represents the awakening of the spiritual consciousness—enlightenment and the connection to the divine. If you want to learn more about the Padma symbol, read on to find…
The bhavacakra is an intricate symbolic representation of samsara—the continuous cycle of birth, life, and death—in the form of a circle. It is the wheel that is commonly featured on the entrance wall of Buddhist temples and monasteries. The symbol has been around since the time of Buddha. This “wheel of becoming” or the “wheel…
A red lotus with four petals bearing the Sanskrit characters va, scha, sha, and sa is the symbol for Muladhara. LAM, the syllable at the center encompassed by a yellow square, is its corresponding mantra. This yellow square represents the prithvi tattva or earth tattva. The Muladhara symbol represents the root chakra, one of the…
Manipura or the solar plexus chakra is the third primary chakra in the Vedic tradition. The Manipura symbol is made up of ten petals bearing the Sanskrit letters pha, pa, na, dha, da, tha, ta, nna, ddha, and dda. Its seed sound is the RAM as seen in the middle of the symbol within a…
The Vishuddha symbol is made up of a 16-petaled circle with a crescent bearing a circle within. It represents the throat chakra, which is the fifth of the primary chakras. It stands for communication—internal and external, as well as verbal and non-verbal. Certain behavioral and psychological characteristics are linked with Vishuddha or throat chakra. It…
In the Hindu Yogic, Buddhist Tantric, and Shakta traditions, the heart chakra is known as Anahata. The fourth main chakra, Anahata represents the heart, which stands for the wisdom that endows us the capacity for love and compassion. The Anahata symbol is comprised of 12 petals which are bluish in color. These petals bear the…