Vintage Eight Auspicious Classic Tibetan Gau Amulet

Eight Auspicious Symbols Classic Tibetan Lhasa Design Gau Box Amulet Pendant: Copper, Tibetan Nepali Traditional Vintage Design

This vintage copper Gau Box, featuring eight auspicious symbols, is a classic design from the Lhasa region. Crafted in a small coppersmith workshop in the alleys of Lhasa, it embodies traditional Tibetan craftsmanship.

Gau, also known as Gawu or Ghau, is the Tibetan term for an amulet box that holds precious objects such as small sculptures or relics. An amulet box filled with religious contents protects the wearer and serves as a portable shrine. The central window of the amulet typically reveals a small statue or thangka.

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Eight auspicious symbols are one of the most common decorative symbols in Tibetan culture and usually found in altar, offering accessories and home decor. The eight auspicious symbols of Tibetan Buddhism consist of: parasol, pair of fishes, treasure vase, lotus, white-spiraling conch shell, endless knot, victory banner, and golden wheel. 

Groupings of eight auspicious symbols were originally used in India at ceremonies such as an investiture or coronation of a king. In Buddhism, these eight symbols of good fortune represent the offerings made by the gods to Shakyamuni Buddha immediately after he gained enlightenment.

Right-coiled White Conch
The white conch which coils to the right symbolises the deep, far-reaching and melodious sound of the Dharma teachings, which being appropriate to different natures, predispositions and aspirations of disciples, awakens them from the deep slumber of ignorance and urges them to accomplish their own and others' welfare.

Precious Umbrella
The precious umbrella symbolises the wholesome activity of preserving beings from illness, harmful forces, obstacles and so forth in this life and all kinds of temporary and enduring sufferings of the three lower realms, and the realms of men and gods in future lives. It also represents the enjoyment of a feast of benefit under its cool shade.

Victory Banner
The victory banner symbolises the victory of the activities of one's own and others body, speech and mind over obstacles and negativitities. It also stands for the complete victory of the Buddhist Doctrine over all harmful and pernicious forces.

Golden Fish
The golden fish symbolises the auspiciousness of all living beings in a state of fearlessness, without danger of drowning in the ocean of sufferings, and migrating from place to place freely and spontaneously, just as fish swim freely without fear through water.

Dharma Wheel
The golden wheel symbolises the auspiciousness of the turning of the precious wheel of Buddha's doctrine, both in its teachings and realizations, in all realms and at all times, enabling beings to experience the joy of wholesome deeds and liberation.

Endless Knot
The endless knot symbolises the mutual dependence of religious doctrine and secular affairs. Similarly, it represents the union of wisdom and method, the inseparability of emptiness and dependent arising at the time of path, and finally, at the time of enlightenment, the complete union of wisdom and great compassion.

Lotus Flower
The lotus flower symbolises the complete purification of the defilements of the body, speech and mind, and the full blossoming of wholesome deeds in blissful liberation.

Vase of Treasure
The treasure vase symbolises an endless rain of long life, wealth and prosperity and all the benefits of this world and liberation.

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Height: 8.5 cm
Width: 7 cm
Depth: 3 cm
Weight: 95 g

*The statue shown in the photo is not included.