Generally speaking, Buddhist symbols can be considered based on a particular culture and its followers. Everebody heard about Eight Auspicious Symbols, dorje and bell, mandala etc. Many of these symbols can be found in ancient India where Hinduism is the main religion. Their meaning and usage may however not be in the same light. The Buddha lived around the 6th Century B.C. However, no Buddhist art or artifacts are known to have been in existence by then. In the Buddhist holy writings, it is claimed that the Buddha would sometimes use Buddhist art or images such as the Wheel of Life to illustrate his teachings. Ornamental carvings have been found dating to the reign of Emperor Ashoka. Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism, thereby making this religion popular both in India and the countries in the vicinity.

Around the first century, all the Buddhist art excavations discovered have been purely symbolic in nature. The coming of the Buddha Tantra brought with it the art of Buddhist meditation by use of imagination and visualization techniques, a form of Buddhist meditation known as Tibetan Buddhism. A large collection of Buddhist art representing deities that was used in these forms of Buddhist meditation rituals can now be found in Buddhist temples throughout the region. Most of these collections were Buddhist literature and artwork.

The Buddhist temples housed mostly literature and artwork associated with Buddhism. The wheel, stupa and the lotus are often used in Buddhist meditation and are therefore not missing in Buddhist temples. Let?s take a look at some of these symbols and see their significance when it comes to Buddhism.

One of the Buddhist art symbols is the bell. This symbol has a natural function and is believed to dispel wicked spirits. It consists of the moondisc, dorje and the lotus symbols. The bell complements the dorje in the religious light. While the bell has a feminine representation to it of wisdom, the dorje represents compassion in the masculine gender.

The dorje is a symbol used in Buddha to represent its indivisible and indestructible nature. It is a scepter that is used in Buddhist meditation as part of the religious practices. It is sometimes referred to as the Vajra.

Offering of incense is also taken to be an important part of Buddhism. Incense burning is usually accompanied by specific requests that touch on longevity, success and personal wellbeing. During these Buddhist meditation rituals, qualities like joy, love and kindness are taken into consideration and meditated upon.

One location that is important in Buddhist worship is Mount Kailash. This mountain peak is located on the Himalayan Mountains and is regarded as the central point of our vast universe. It is an important location for Buddhist meditation and has a religious connection to the 4 main religions of the region. These religions are Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Bon.

Buddhist art forms are seen by many as visual mantras. The large assortments are usually located in the Buddhist temples. By contemplating on these religious Buddhist art forms, it is generally accepted that one will build an inner contact with the facet being represented.

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