The mystic mantra OM MANE PADME HUM meaning Hail Jewel in the Lotus is found engraved on prayer wheels and also inscribed on Medangs which are roadside walls.
IMAGES AND SYMBOLS
Monasteries and many buildings in Sikkim are richly decorated with symbols and icons. These symbols are painted or embossed on the walls or on Tankas. These paintings may depict the life of Buddha or some Tibetan saint, the Wheel of Life or a deity surrounded by lesser deities.
Wheel of Life
The wheel of life is one of the purest Buddhist emblems. This emblem can be seen in the entrance of almost all monasteries. This emblem is also widely depicted on Thankas or religious scrolls.
The circular form of this wheel symbolises the ceaseless worldly existence. This wheel is held in the clutches of a monster with its claws and teeth and signifies the passionate clinging of the people to exist in this world. The hub of the wheel contains a cock, a snake and a pig. The cock signifies lust or desire, the snake signifies anger and the pig symbolises ignorance and stupidity. These are shown in the centre of the wheel as it is said that they are the root cause of the trouble on earth.
In the intermediate circle of the wheel of life, the five worlds are drawn as advised by Lord Buddha. The rim between the intermediate world and the innermost circle of ignorance, lust and envy is drawn in half white and half black. White area symbolises good deeds and black symbolises bad or evil deeds. People going upwards in white portion represent people who have performed good deeds in their life time and are now going to take rebirth in the world of gods. People going in the black portion indicate hell or the world of animals.
In the intermediate circle there are five parts that of which the two upper parts symbolise heavenly and human worlds. The remaining three worlds in the lower part symbolise sinful deeds leading to a world of animals, ghosts and hell. Outer most circle shows 12 phases of life.
Eight Lucky signs and their significance
The eight signs are called as Tashi Tagyein Tibetan. These auspicious signs are intimate with life and teachings of Buddha. These eight lucky signs manifest themselves in paintings and in the form of carvings on furniture and can also be seen on the walls of buildings. The eight lucky signs have been explained briefly below
1.The Dug (Parasol):The Parasol of authority symbolises the authority of Buddha. The parasol protects the head from the scorching heat of sun just as the law protects the mind from the scorching passion.
2.The Bhumpa (Vase):The vase represents a repository of limitless material wealth, good health and long life.
3.The Conch Shell (Dhungkar):It symbolises reverberating sound of dharma and signifies the awakening of sentient beings from the sleeping state of their ignorance. It persuades them towards the path of noble deeds that are beneficial to others. Gautam blew the conchshell when he decided to preach the law. The conch shell is blown in commemoration of this event whenever there is a special sermon by a high lama.
4.The Banner of Victory (Gyaltsen):This symbol signifies the fortune of having victory of good over the evil forces which hinders the success of noble goals and also proclaims the victory of piety over evil. It is used in processions.
5.A Pair of Golden Fishes (Sernya):Symbolises resurrection of eternal life, rebirth etc. The pair signifies the ability to swim with ease without obstruction in the ocean of this world. They may also be taken to symbolise the eye of perception as fish can see through muddy water. The fish couple suggests mutual aid and indispensability between male and female in material life.
6.The Lotus Flower (Pema):It symbolises the ultimate goal namely enlightenment. As the lotus comes out of dirt but does not carry any dirt similarly law is free of all earthly matters.
7.Knot of Eternity (Palbheu): It is law without beginning and without end which symbolises Eternity. The curly hair on the chest of Buddha has the appearance of Knot Eternity. It is also called as lucky net and symbolises Brahamjala representing all the theories and philosophies of the universe.
8.The Wheel Of Dharma (Choekyi Khorlo):It symbolises the propagation of Buddha’s teaching. The first sermon setting in motion of the cycle of law is symbolist in a wheel with eight spokes, which stand for the eight fold path.
Mandalas
A mandala is a mystic pictorial representation of the universe. In the centre of the mandala is a divinity with whom the meditating practitioner aims to merge. Many types of mandalas are painted on thankas.
HOLY IMPLEMENTS & STRUCTURES
The Prayer Flag
The Prayer Flags can be seen almost anywhere in Sikkim – on hill-tops, on building-tops – an integral part of the landscape of Sikkim. These flags have prayers inscribed on them. There are four types of Prayer flags. Lungta or wind Horse are strips of clothes attached with bamboo poles. These flags have the figure of a horse with the mystical jewel on its back. Chopen or luck flag are long, narrow and oblong in shape. These type of flags are tied on twigs of trees, bridges and top of hills. Gyalsten or Victorious Banner have a large amount of holy text on them including the eight lucky signs. Glan-po stob ryyas or Vast lucky flag include symbols such as crossed dorjee in the centre with a peacock.
Chortens
Chortens or stupas dot every nook and corner Sikkim. Chortens are normally found concentrated around monasteries. In old times, the chortens were built as relic holders but now they are erected in memory of Lord Buddha or some Buddhist saints. Though chortens vary in size with some as high as a four storeyed building, their shapes are more or less the same. The shape of the chorten symbolises the five elements of nature namely earth, water, fire, air and ether to which a body is transformed after death. The rectangular base represents the earth whereas the globe atop this depicts water. Resting on the globe is a triangular structure which signifies fire. On the tip of the triangular is a crescent that represents air. Nested in the crescent is a small oval structure which symbolises ether.
Bell & Thunderbolt
The Bell and the Thunderbolt signify the two truths. The Bell or Thrilbu symbolises that everything in the end is void and the Thunderbolt or Dorjee signifies the immortality of Truth. The Bell is held in the right hand and the Thunderbolt in the left during rituals.
Prayer wheel & Rosary
The Prayer Wheel is a religious implement on which some holy mantra is inscribed and which is held in the hand and rotated with the motion of the wrist. There are also the bigger type of Prayer Wheels which surround monasteries or chortens. For instance, Phurba-Chorten near Tibetology in Gangtok is surrounded by 113 prayer wheels which are rotated by devotees when they go around the chorten. One can also see Prayer wheels in streams the flowing water of which rotate them. The Rosary consists of 108 beads made of small pellets of wood, ivory or precious stones. While telling the beads, holy mantras are chanted to invoke the blessings of the gods.
Khada or Scarf
Khadas are long length of silk cloth in the form of a scarf that besides being used as an offering to the gods are also presented at social occasions be it a marriage, birthday or funeral.
The method of presenting khadas varies according to the status of the person it is being offered to. To one who is superior to you, you should raise it in both hands to the height of the forehead while to the one who is of equal status, you have have to raise it in both hands at a level with your shoulders and present it in his hands. You can also accept one in return from him whom you presented. To one who is below in status or age you should put the scarf around his neck with the free ends kept hanging in front. To the bereaved, the khada is folded and offered.
BODHISATTVA (BUDDHAS IN THE MAKING)
Most of the monasteries in Sikkim contain the idols of the Bodhisattvas Avalokitesvara, Padmasambva and Manjusri.These and some other Bodhisattvas are briefly described below. Some monasteries also have an image of some form of Buddha. There are a few monasteries which emphasise the Tantric form of worship and have the Bodhisattva depicted in the Yab-Yum (Father-Mother) pose with a female shakti.
Avalokitesvara or Chenrezi
He is the leading celestial being in Buddhism and the Lord of Compassion. He is said to be the saviour of beings alive. He is manifested in 108 different forms. The most popular form is with 11 heads. The Dalai Lama is said to be the reincarnation of Avalokitesvara.
Amitaba or Opame
This deity holds a pot of ambrosia in his hand. His earthly manifestation in Tibet is the Panchen Lama.
Padmasambva
He was a Guru who travelled to Lhasa in the eight century and was instrumental in spreading Buddhism in Tibet. He is depicted normally holding a Thunderbolt in his right hand and a bowl made of human skull in the left hand. There are three heads on the spear beside the Guru: a skull, a head with blood and flesh and a head with signs of life. The heads represent the doctrine of Three Bodies.
Mirlrepa
This great mystic of Tibet renounced all earthly possessions and he has only a bowl of human skull for storing food. He always has his right ear pointing towards the sky as if in constant communication with the Almighty.
Manjusri
He is also known as the Deity of Knowledge and carries a Sword of Wisdom in the right hand.
