Here is the sixth of the Eight Auspicious Symbols, the Endless Knot, and its significance. This comes from Robert Beers definitive presentation of these in both his Handbook of Tibetan Symbols (shmb.la/handbook-tibetan-symbols) and the even more comprehensive Encyclopaedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs (shmb.la/encylopedia-tibetan-symbols). THE ENDLESS OR GLORIOUS KNOT (Skt. shrivatsa, granthi; Tib. dpal be’u) The Sanskrit term shrivatsa means ‘beloved of Shri’. Shri refers to the goddess Lakshmi; the consort of Vishnu, and the shrivatsa is an auspicious mark or hair-curl that adorns the breast of Vishnu. Lakshmi’s insignia on Vishnu’s breast represents the devotion in his heart for his consort, and since Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth and good fortune the shrivatsa forms a natural auspicious symbol. The shrivatsa either takes the form of a triangular swirl, or an upright diamond with loops at its four inter-cardinal corners. Krishna, as the eighth incarnation of Vishnu, also bears the shrivatsa at the center of his chest. Another name given to this hair-curl is nandyavarta, which means ‘curl of happiness’, and this curl is shaped like a swastika or a Greek hooked-cross (Gk. gammadion). Indian and Chinese representations of the Buddha frequently show the nandyavarta or swastika on his breast as a symbol of his enlightened mind. Another possible derivation of both the endless knot and swastika arose from the S-shaped markings on the hood of the cobra. This in turn gave rise to the nagayantra, where two or more entwining snakes form an endless knot design or yantra. The endless knot or granthi also appears on clay seals from the early Indus valley civilization (circa 2500 BCE). In its final evolution as a geometric Buddhist symbol the eternal knot or ‘lucky diagram’, which is described as ‘turning like a swastika’, was identified with the shrivatsa-svastika, since these parallel symbols were common to most early Indian traditions of the astamangala. The eternal, endless, or mystic knot is common to many ancient traditions, and became particularly innovative in Islamic and Celtic designs. In China it is a symbol of longevity, continuity, love, and harmony. As a symbol of the Buddha’s mind the eternal knot represents the Buddha’s endless wisdom and compassion. As a symbol of the Buddha’s teachings it represents the continuity of the ‘twelve links of dependent origination’, which underlies the reality of cyclic existence. For more information on this anf the other seven Auspicious Symbols, see the Handbook of Tibetan Symbols: shmb.la/handbook-tibetan-symbols Or the more comprehensive Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and motifs: shmb.la/encylopedia-tibetan-symbols
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 01:58:00 +0000
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