Lanterns Up

Kalachakra is a Sanskrit term used in Tantric Buddhism that means “time-wheel” or “time-cycles”. The Kalachakra tradition revolves around the concept of time and cycles: from the cycles of the planets, to the cycles of human breathing, it teaches the practice of working with the most subtle energies within one’s body on the path to enlightenment.

The Kalachakra deity represents a Buddha and thus omniscience. Since Kalachakra is time and everything is under the influence of time, Kalachakra knows all.

The Kalachakra mantra, which is shown as OM AH HUM HOH HAM KSHAH MA LA VA RA YA HUM PHET, consists of seven individual syllables combined together with three other components to make a total of ten very powerful elements within the image. The ten powers are described as ten existences – body, awareness, space, wind, fire, water, earth, stable, moving, and the gods unseen and uncreated. So, the Kalachakra symbol means “The one with ten powers”, which is the best known symbols of the Kalachakra system. It is carved onto pendants, rings, bracelets, etc. for the use of protection against spirit harm.

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Thangka is a Nepalese art form imported to Tibet after Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal, daughter of King Lichchavi, married Sron Tsan Gampo, the ruler of  Tibet imported the images of Aryawalokirteshwar and other Nepalese deities to Tibet.  Thangkas are made on various fabrics. The most common is a loosely woven cotton produced in widths from 40 to 58 centimeters (16 – 23 inches). While some variations do exist, thangkas wider than 45 centimeters (17 or 18 inches) frequently have seams in the support.

The eight luck-bringing symbols, Ashta-Mangala (Sanskrit) or Uljeitu naiman temdek (Mongolian), are popular charms to both the lamas and the Tibetan laity. The qualities of the Buddha are traditionally represented by these 8 auspicious symbols. They were offered to the Buddha Shakyamuni at the time of his birth.

The 8 auspicious symbols also commemorate the gifts offered by celestial beings to Buddha Shakyamuni after his attainment of enlightenment. The auspicious symbols appear either all together, in pairs or singly. They decorate all sorts of objects both sacred and secular. Sometimes they appear cast as altar bronzes.

The 8 auspicious symbols may be personified as eight symbol-bearing goddesses, known in Tibetan as Tashi-lhamo Gyal or ASHTAMANGALA-DEVI in sanskrit. Each is represented holding the symbolic object and all are adorned with crowns and jewels.

1. THE PRECIOUS UMBRELLA [PARASOL]

(CHATTRA [S.] Rinchen Dug [T.] Sikur [M.])
denotes respect; gives protection from all evil and the heat of evil desires

2. TWO GOLDEN FISH

(SURVANA MATSYA Sergyi Nya Jighasun)
represent Buddha’s eyes, hence Transcendent Wisdom; happiness and utility; symbolic of beings saved from the ocean of earthly life and suffering

3. GREAT INEXHAUSTIBLE TREASURE VASE

(KALASHA Terchen-pahi Bumpa Bumba)
the innumerable qualities of a Buddha’s Body; contains spiritual jewels; the treasury of all desires

4. THE EXCELLENT LOTUS FLOWER

(PADMA Padma Zangpo Badma)
representing the purity of the Buddha’s Mind; emblem of original purity; pledge of salvation, or Nirvana

5. PRECIOUS WHITE CONCH HORN [TRUMPET],

WITH A SPIRAL THAT TURNS TO THE RIGHT
(SHANKHA Dungkar Yakhyil Labai)
symbolizes the sound of Dharma, which can be heard in all directions; proclaiming the fame of the saints; “the blessedness of turning to the right”

6. THE GLORIOUS INTERWOVEN KNOT OF LIFE

(SHRIVATSA Palgyi Behu Balbu)
the Mystic Diagram representing the Great Love of all the Buddhas, and the never-ending continuity of the Teachings of Buddha’s Mind; the knot of Love; the thread which guides to happiness

7. SUPREME CIRCULAR BANNER OF VICTORY

(DHVAJA Choggi Gyaltshan Doja)
victory over negative influences; flag that celebrates the victory of Buddhism; the standard erected on the summit of the palace of salvation

8. PRECIOUS GOLDEN WHEEL OF DHARMA

(CHAKRA Sergyi Khorlo Kurde)
the Teaching of the Buddha; wheel of doctrine or religious law; the wheel which leads to perfection

Tibetan

Dansk (Danish)
n. – tibetansk
adj. – tibetaner

Nederlands (Dutch)
Tibetaan(s)

Français (French)
n. – Tibétain
adj. – tibétain

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n. – Tibeter, Tibetisch
adj. – tibetisch

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n. – Θιβετιανός, η γλώσσα του Θιβέτ
adj. – θιβετικός, Θιβετιανός

Italiano (Italian)
tibetano

Português (Portuguese)
n. – tibetano (m)
adj. – tibetano

Русский (Russian)
тибетец, тибетский

Español (Spanish)
n. – tibetano
adj. – tibetano

Svenska (Swedish)
n. – tibetanska, tibetan
adj. – tibetansk

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
西藏语, 藏族人, 西藏人, 西藏的, 藏族人的, 藏族的

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. – 西藏語, 藏族人, 西藏人
adj. – 西藏的, 藏族人的, 藏族的

한국어 (Korean)
n. – 티베트 사람, 티베트 말
adj. – 티베트의, 티베트 사람의

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. – チベットの, チベット人の, チベット語の
n. – チベット人, チベット語

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‏(الاسم) لغه أبناء التبيت, التيبيه (صفه) أحد أبناء التبت, التيبتي‏

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n. – ‮טיבטי/ת, טיבטית (שפה)‬
adj. – ‮טיבטי/ת, של טיבט, לשונה ועמה‬