The Worldview of Buddhist Symbolism in Ladakh

Abstract

Symbols are found in each and every religious tradition. The symbols help to create the humankind in the formation of solidarity within society. Though in most of the cases, people use the positive aspects of symbols, but sometimes it provokes havoc in the society. The emergences of these symbols came up along the philosophy of all the religions in the world. The Tibetan religious symbolism and their values in society is mostly connected with the teaching of Buddha Shakyamuni. The ancient Nalanda monastic education system has influenced the people of Tibet dates back to the 7th century. Similarly, in Ladakh the peoples have been practicing a Tibetan form of Buddhism since the 7th century. The practice of different symbols of Ladakhi people in their day to day life represents their religion, such as Prayer wheels, eight auspicious symbols and Prayer Flags which are very important and had been practicing since ancient times. There are also ritual symbols such as cake offering (Torma) which is prominently used in the day to day of the Ladakhi people. These symbols represent the living heritage of wisdom and compassionate attitudes towards all sentient beings. Buddhist values and symbols have a great hold on the lives of people living in the whole Trans-Himalayan regions in general and Ladakhi society in particular even in modern times. All aspects of their lives revolve around Buddhist values and symbols from birth to death. In Ladakh Buddhist societies, there is not such a wide gap between spiritual and material things as there seems to exist in the western civilization of today. Symbols are signs which we used to remind ourselves of the interrelation between inward and outward, between mental activities and material appearances.