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Buddhist symbolism is the use of symbols (Sanskrit: pratīka) to represent certain aspects of the Buddha's Dharma (teaching). Early Buddhist symbols which remain important today include the Dharma wheel, the Indian lotus, the three jewels and the Bodhi tree. [1] Buddhism symbolism is intended to represent the key values of the Buddhist faith.
The dharmachakra is a symbol in the sramana religion of Budhha Dhamma. [23] [24] Wheel symbolism was also used in Indian temples in places that underwent a religious transformation from Buddhism, [25] [26] such as Jagannath temple, whose deity is believed by some scholars to have a Buddhist origin.
Islamic prophet Dhu al-Kifl has been identified with the Buddha based on Surah 95:1 of the Qur'an, which references a fig tree—a symbol that does not feature prominently in the lives of any of the other prophets mentioned in the Qur'an.
The Theravada-tradition does not have a graphical representation of the round of rebirths, but cakra-symbolism is an elementary component of Buddhism, and Buddhaghosa's Path of Purification (Visuddhimagga) contains such imagery: It is the beginningless round of rebirths that is called the 'Wheel of the round of rebirths' (saṃsāracakka).
The ushnisha (Sanskrit: उष्णीष, romanized: uṣṇīṣa, Pali: uṇhīsa) is a protuberance on top of the head of a Buddha. In Buddhist literature, it is sometimes said to represent the "crown" of a Buddha, a symbol of Enlightenment and status the King of the Dharma.
The Eyes of Buddha are painted [7] onto the upper portions of many Tibetan-style stupas, mostly throughout Nepal. [1] [8] The symbol is painted on all four sides of the cube at the top of the stupa to symbolize the Buddha's wisdom seeing all things in all four cardinal directions. [1]
The first statues and busts of the Buddha were made in the region around Mathura or Gandhara in the second or third century CE. [4] [5] Many statues and busts exist where the Buddha and other bodhisattvas have a mustache. Seated Buddha, Gandhara, 1st–2nd century CE, Tokyo National Museum Buddha depicted with urna, gilt bronze, 14th century
The symbol represents the Buddha's victory over the four māras, or hindrances in the path of enlightenment. These hindrances are pride, desire, disturbing emotions, and the fear of death. Within the Tibetan tradition, a list of eleven different forms of the victory banner is given to represent eleven specific methods for overcoming defilement.