Iconography

A conch shell is one of the oldest icons in Buddhism.  It is made by nature, not man, & sounds in all directions, as do the teachings of the Buddha. Consequently, the conch is seen as a vehicle fearlessly proclaiming the truth of dharma in all directions. It is also seen as an emblem of power & authority & is thought to banish evil. A white conch shell was presented to Sakyamuni by the great sky god Indra.

Here, several animals are depicted around the top spiral of the shell: a mongoose, tiger, sheep, hare & one unidentified animal that may be a bore. The mouthpiece is a lotus blossom. Two tigers occupy the silver & gemstone horn's opening. The pointed base is tipped with a turquoise end & has champka fruit from the wish-granting tree.

The 8 auspicious symbols surrounding the Cintamani on the exposed shell surface are:
1. The right spiraling (echoing the celestial movement of the sun, moon & stars)

2.  The lotus flower, another natural symbol representing earth.  Tibetan Buddhist mystics imagined the earth floating like a lotus flower on the oceans of the universe. The heart of the flower is the cosmic mountain, the axis of the universe. The generally acknowledged meaning of the lotus flower is purity of mind or divine creation. From the muck of a pond, where the roots of the lotus reside, an immaculate white flower emerges to rest on the surface of the water as a metaphor for the harmonious unfolding of spirituality.
The lotus is an important Buddhist motif.  Images of the Buddha & other important persons often are shown seated on a lotus throne.  The growth of the lotus, with its roots in mud, growing through water & emerging as a wonderful plant above the water's surface, is seen as an analogy of the soul’s path from the mud of materialism to the purity of enlightenment. The 3 stages of the lotus, bud, utpala (mid-blossom) & the full blossoming throne represent the past present & future respectively.

3 . The Dharma wheel, in three parts, exists as a hub, the center of the world.  The 8 spokes denote the 8 paths to enlightenment. These 8 steps work together, not separately.  1. right understanding . 2. right attitude  3. right speech  4. right action  5. right work    6. right effort  7. right mindfulness  8. right meditation  The rim represents the attribute of limitation.  All are contained within a circle, which is perceived to be perfect & complete, like the teachings of the Buddha.

4. The parasol & the shade it casts symbolize wisdom.  Its hanging skirt indicates compassion, so the parasol becomes a symbol of protection from the painful heat of the suffering human incur from the spiritual poisons of desire, hate, greed & ignorance.  Occasionally, an 8- sided parasol is seen.  This element refers to the eightfold path to enlightenment.

5. Victory banner is an early Buddhist motif signifying the enlightenment of the Buddha & the triumph of knowledge over ignorance.  This symbol also is used to recall the Buddha’s triumph over his temptress, Mara.  It further announces that all spiritual obstacles have been overcome & good fortune has arrived.

6. The Eternal, or Infinite, Knot (Sanskrit, "Srivastsa") is the classic icon for the concept of reality. The interwoven lines are graphic representations of the concept that everything in the world is interconnected.  Therefore, dependent origination is the underlying reality of existence.  The knot also reflects the endless cycle of death & rebirth, mirroring infinity & the wisdom of the Buddha.

7. The 2 golden fish, having complete freedom in water, represent happiness, fertility, & abundance.  On a spiritual level, they represent the boundless abundance of the Buddha’s energy , which never diminishes, no matter how much is given away.

8. The Inexhaustible Treasure vase or urn (kalasa) promises the good fortune of spiritual & material fulfillment, symbolizing the treasure of spiritual wealth.  Among those treasures is the jewel of enlightenment. It also extends to the material side & it is characteristic of the deities that symbolize prosperity.