The Lotus: Eight Auspicious Symbols Card by Kumar Lama

The Lotus

The Indian Lotus, which grows from the dark watery mire but is unstained by it, is a major Buddhist symbol of purity and renunciation. It represents the blossoming of wholesome activities, which are performed with complete freedom from the faults of cyclic existence. The Buddhist lotus is described as having four, eight, sixteen, twenty-four, thirty-two, sixty-four, a hundred, or a thousand petals. These numbers symbolically correspond to the internal lotuses or chakras of the subtle body, and to the numerical components of the mandala.

The eight auspicious symbols are the most well know group of Buddhist symbols, and are traditionally listed in the order of: (1) a white parasol; (2) a pair of golden fishes; (3) a treasure vase; (4) a lotus; (5) a right-spiraling white conch shell; (6) an endless knot; (7) a victorious banner; (8) a golden wheel.

In the Buddhist tradition these eight symbols of good fortune represent the offerings present by the great Vedic gods to Shakyamuni Buddha upon his attainment of enlightenment.

This beautiful card print comes from an image painted by the artist Kumar Lama.

Card measures 5" x 7", and is a textured folding greeting card with a blank interior, that comes in a plastic sleeve.