International Journal of Research p-I SSN: 2348-6848 e-I SSN: 2348-795X Available at Volume 04 Issue 03 https://edupediapublications.org/journals Ma rch 2017 Significance of Buddhist Symbols in Ladakh _____________________________________________________ Thinles Dorje Research Scholar Department of Chinese and Tibetan Languages Punjab University, Chandigarh _____________________________________________________ Abstract 10th century. The practice of different Symbols are found in each and every symbols by Ladakhi people in their religious tradition. The symbols help to day-to-day life represents their religion create the humankind in the formation such as Prayer wheel and Prayer flag, of solidarity within society. Though in which are very important and had been most of the cases, people use the practicing since ancient times. These positive aspects of symbols but symbols represent the living heritage sometimes it provokes havoc in the of wisdom and compassionate attitudes society. The emergences of these towards all sentient beings. Buddhist symbols came up along the philosophy values and symbols have a great hold of all the religions in the world. The on the lives of people living in Ladakh Tibetan religious symbolism is mostly in modern times. All aspect of their connected with the teaching of Buddha lives revolves around Buddhist values Shakyamuni. The ancient Nalanda and symbols from birth to death. In monastic education system has Ladakh Buddhist societies, there is not influenced the people of Tibet dates such a wide gap between spiritual and back to 7th century. Similarly, in material things, as there seems to exist Ladakh, the peoples are practicing in the western civilization of today. Tibetan form of Buddhism since the Symbols are a sign that we used to Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 821 International Journal of Research p-I SSN: 2348-6848 e-I SSN: 2348-795X Available at Volume 04 Issue 03 https://edupediapublications.org/journals Ma rch 2017 remind ourselves of the inter-relation wheel of life, eight auspicious signs between inward and outward, between and mandalas represents the doctrine mental activities and material of Buddhism. appearances. Symbols give society a sense of Keywords: Religious Symbolism, worth and purpose, allowing it to Prayer Flags, Prayer Wheel, Buddhism distinguish the special from the in Ladakh, Religion, Culture, Torma ordinary. It plays a significant role in culture as well as in religion. There is Introduction hardly any religion where there is no significance of symbols. Symbols are Generally, a symbol is an object that very central to every religion. In fact, represents, stands for, or suggests an many anthropologists view religion as idea, belief, and action. Every symbol a series of symbols that people in a is an outcome of the psychic body of a given community believe and explain man and his mind (Kumar, 2013). In the order of the universe and their Hinduism concepts like ‘sacred cow’, place in the world. Religious tulsi pooja, Shivling pooja etc, in symbolism can also extend into social Sikhism, there are five symbols Kesh, and political interactions, becoming an Kirpan, kara, kanga, and kashera, in integral part of cultural identity. Muslim religion green flag with French Sociologist Emile Durkheim crescent moon and star and ‘burkha’ called religion as “symbolic for women are symbols, which representation of society”. Religious represents their respective religions. symbols maintain, reinforce and Likewise, in Buddhism symbol of perpetuate religious belief system. The Chakra, prayer flag and prayer wheel, Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 822 International Journal of Research p-I SSN: 2348-6848 e-I SSN: 2348-795X Available at Volume 04 Issue 03 https://edupediapublications.org/journals Ma rch 2017 peak experiences in the wakeful state, Research Methodology dream state, deep sleep state and super The sources used for the study are conscious state are all expressed comprised of secondary sources like through symbols in art, religion, and books, journals, newspapers, philosophy. In order to interpret any magazines, report, articles, and symbol in totality, one should try to websites. relive those experiences. The symbols Study Area cannot be understood merely by Historically, Ladakh was an applying the intellect. Though born out independent kingdom which during the of the terrestrial sphere, they do not medieval era was integrated into Tibet belong to it. They have their roots in and later was brought into Jammu in the higher dimensions of spiritual life the late 18th century. Since then, (Dauglas, 2002). Ladakh was constantly brought into the politics of its neighbors. The region Objectives: also came under the colonial influence The main objectives of our study are: during the British rule in India. In spite To develop an understanding the of these, people of Ladakh have meaning of symbols succeeded in developing their own To understand the importance of the distinct culture (Tsering, 2010). In practicing symbols in day-to-day life in area, Ladakh is almost the same size as Ladakh. England that supports a population of To know the role of symbols in nearly 10 million. As per the latest Buddhist religion in Ladakh. national census, the proportion of Buddhist population in the region is Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 823 International Journal of Research p-I SSN: 2348-6848 e-I SSN: 2348-795X Available at Volume 04 Issue 03 https://edupediapublications.org/journals Ma rch 2017 45.87 percent (India 2014). The vast some animal dung formed an important majority of who live as farmers in input to the soil (Ball, 1995). small villages. Since the rainfall is very Buddhism penetrated Ladakh less, the people here have to rely on during Emperor Asoka’s time in 204 glacial melt water, which is brought to B.C. However, the form of Buddhism the field through an elaborate channel popularly called Mahayana Buddhism system. Culture, tradition and limited came to Ladakh with the blessing of population growth has helped to ensure the land by the great Buddhist saint the natural carrying capacity of the Padmasambhava in the 8th century land is not exceeding. (Nordberg, A.D. There is at least one monastery in 2000). Most of the Ladakhi families almost every village. The most family own land and a number of animals. has one of its members as a monk in Land holdings are neither sold nor the monastery and there is constant divided but passed in an intact form interaction between villagers and the from one generation to next. Growing monks. The teachings of Buddha season is for only four months in permeate in almost all aspects of life. summer. However, local varieties like The long-standing knowledge of wheat, barley produce plentiful yields. integrating environmental knowledge In lower altitude, there grows apples, with social and religious understanding apricots, and few vegetables. clearly reflects the close relationship Agricultural inputs have been simple in between people and the mother earth. the form of non-mechanized tools. The Buddhist here believes that all the Ploughing is done using animal power. things on the earth are interconnected. Manure made mainly of night soil and There is nothing in existence and exist Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 824 International Journal of Research p-I SSN: 2348-6848 e-I SSN: 2348-795X Available at Volume 04 Issue 03 https://edupediapublications.org/journals Ma rch 2017 as a separate fix isolated entity and as excavate Buddhist monasteries in rock, such human existence is dependent on creating a large amount of artwork to the diverse organisms within the withstand the ages. Probably the natural world each playing a role in the earliest typical Buddhist monument is natural economy of the Biosphere. the ‘Stupa’, which was often specially This view is also found at the heart of decorated. The first actual Buddha the ecological perspective particularly images appeared around the first as influenced by system theory which century BCE, so until then the artwork recognizes that everything in this was largely symbolic in nature with the world is woven into a subtle and appearance of Buddhist Tantra around intricate web of relationships. the 6th century, a wealth of new artwork and symbolism appeared, as Buddhist Symbol: Origin and imagination and visualization form a Development major technique in meditation practices. From this moment on, a Buddhist symbols are the use of art to pantheon of deities and protectors represent certain aspects of Buddha appeared, together with a vast dharma, which began in the 4th collection of symbolic items, such as century BCE. Anthropomorphic the Vajra and bell, mandalas etc. symbolism appeared from around the (viewonbuddhism.org, 2011) With the 1st century CE with the arts of passage of time various symbolic Mathura and the Greco-Buddhist art of innovations were later introduced, Gandhara and was combined with the especially through Tibetan Buddhism. previous symbols. In the second All ancient religions have in the course century BCE, people started to Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 825 International Journal of Research p-I SSN: 2348-6848 e-I SSN: 2348-795X Available at Volume 04 Issue 03 https://edupediapublications.org/journals Ma rch 2017 of time developed many symbols to many of which later on incorporated express various doctrinal concepts into Tibetan Buddhism. In Ladakh, visually. Buddhism does not lag Buddhist symbol is commonly seen in behind in this sphere but in fact, has a Buddhist monastery and around the given rise to many new symbols in villages, which are no different than addition to what it has derived from the Tibetan Mahayana Buddhist symbol common Indian heritage. To symbols, since Ladakhi Buddhism is descendant which were adopted from pre-Buddhist of Tibetan Buddhism.