Buddhist Symbols And Their Meanings

As one of the world’s oldest and most prominent belief systems, Buddhism is surely an interesting subject for anyone who is interested in theology, religion and spirituality.

To understand Buddhism better, one should definitely be well-versed in Buddhist symbolism as symbols play an important role in Buddhist faith.

In this article, we will examine Buddhist symbols for strength, good luck and protection.

To read our detailed post on the eight auspicious symbols of Buddhism please click here.

To read our article on other Buddhist peace symbols, please click here.

Buddhist Symbols For Strength

Yellow Lotus Flower

A yellow lotus flower provides another instance where Buddhists refer to the blooming process of the lotus flower to represent strength and perseverance required to follow Buddha’s teachings.

The colors yellow and orange themselves represent bravery, strength, and perseverance, transforming the most known Buddhist symbol into a strength symbol.

Vajra

Vajra is a Sanskrit word that translates as both ‘thunderbolt’ and ‘diamond’. It is a spear-like object used in traditional Buddhist ceremonies.

The name and the appearance, as well as the legend associated with the item, represents strength and indestructible power.

According to legends, the item belonged to the Hindu God of rain, thus the name Vajra (thunderbolt). The Vajra possesses destructive powers but cannot be destroyed, signifying incomparable strength and power.

Buddhists usually use the four-headed Vajra in most traditions. It has a lotus-shaped bud in its design, which is another sacred Buddhist symbol.

The wielder holds the Vajra in the right hand and a bell, another important symbol, in the left hand. The bell and the spear represent wisdom and power, respectively; together, the two represent Buddha’s basic teachings that urge followers to be wise in their use of force.

Would you like to learn more about strength symbols? If so, please kindly click here to read our detailed list of strength and perseverance symbols. 

Buddhist Good Luck Symbols

In addition to the eight auspicious/good fortune symbols in Buddhism, there are some specific symbols of good luck in Buddhism that you should know about.

Laughing Buddha

The first item in our list of Buddhist good luck symbols is a famous one, the laughing Buddha.

The laughing Buddha is one of the most renowned Buddhist symbols known to bring good luck, wealth, and prosperity.

If you want to bring some good luck into your life, then a laughing buddha sitting on a gold nugget and holding out another/smaller gold nugget is what you would want to bring into your home.

A laughing Buddha, holding gold in his hands in an upright position, is also said to bring good luck.

Bodhi Tree

According to Buddhist scriptures, Buddha achieved enlightenment after meditating under a Bodhi Tree for six years.

Thus, the tree is now a sacred symbol in Buddhism, representing hope and salvation for many. Buddhists believe that there are only two Bodhi Trees in existence, which originated from the same Bodhi Tree the Supreme Buddha meditated under.

Regardless of whether the tree is the original tree’s offspring or not, all Bodhi Trees are sacred to Buddhists.

It is also known as the wisdom tree and symbolizes one’s achievement of enlightenment. The growth of the tree represents the growth of an individual from the discovery of self and their journey to enlightenment.

These are the reasons why Buddhists hold the Bodhi tree dear and consider it as a symbol for good luck.

Buddhist Protection Symbols – Symbols of Protection in Buddhism

The Protecting Buddha

If you are really interested in Buddhism you probably have already seen ‘the Protecting Buddha’, which is one of the most prominent Buddhist protection symbols, somewhere as a symbol, a figurine or a statue.

In this version of the Buddha symbol, the protecting Buddha sits cross-legged and upright with his left hand lying on his lap and the right raised in front of him facing outwards.

Some variations show the Buddha standing with this left hand hanging on one side or raised and facing outward. The pose represents protection from fear, delusion, and evil.

The Umbrella

The second one in our list of Buddhist protection symbols is the Umbrella/the Parasol which is also one of the eight auspicious signs of Buddhism.

In ancient Indian culture, it represented royalty and hierarchical status. However, after Buddhism’s introduction, the parasol/umbrella has been being used also as a symbol of safety and protection obtained through Buddha’s teachings.

Buddhists believe that by following Buddha’s practices, they can protect themselves from all evil and worldly desires and distractions, which are synonymous with evil in Buddhist teachings.

The Four Guardian Kings

The four guardian Kings are also known as the guardians of direction for the four heavenly kings in Buddhism.

According to Buddhist beliefs, these kings appeared right after the Buddha achieved enlightenment. Each of the kings offered Buddha a bowl which were subsequently combined to form the one bowl  depicted in Buddha’s lap in many of the murals.

Paintings depicting the four kinds can be seen at the entrances of Buddhist temples today, with each figure adorned in heavy armor shown guarding the temples.

Thus, the four guardian kings are considered a symbol of protection in Buddhism that guards the teachings of the Buddha and keeps evil out of the temples and sacred prayer areas.

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