8 Goddesses of Auspiciousness
Offering Substances of the Goddesses of Auspiciousness
By H.E. Garchen Rinpoche
The Eight Auspicious Symbols are the hand-emblems of the eight gracefully enchanting offerings goddesses arisen from the eight sense spheres of the fully awakened buddhas who have fully perfected the amassment of merit.
- The Supreme Precious Parasol
- The Auspicious Golden Fishes
- The Excellent Wish-Fulfilling Vase
- The Beautiful Lotus
- The White Conch of Fame and Renown
- The Endless Knot of Abundance
- The Unfailing Victory Banner
- The Powerful Wheel
By offering these to the objects of refuge-the Buddhas and bodhisattvas of the ten directions-not only is immeasurable merit fully accumulate, but as it says in The Sutra of The Amassment of Auspiciousness:
"Namo! The head is auspicious, [like] the parasol that protects! The body is auspicious, [like] the unfailing victory banner! The speech is auspicious, [like] the right-spiraling Dharma conch! The mind is auspicious, [like] the radiant knot! The eyes are auspicious, [like] the golden fishes! The tongue is auspicious, [like] the blooming lotus petals!
The neck is auspicious, [like] the precious vase! The feet are auspicious, [like] the five wheels of enlightened activity! [Such are the supreme and sacred attainments of the eight auspicious substances, may each and every auspiciousness belonging to these eight supreme substances descend upon us here and now. May there always be the happiness and good fortune of such auspiciousness!"
Thus, wherever these images are present, signs of auspiciousness will increase in that place, as described above. Recently, I had dreams on two occasions of many little girls carrying these eight auspicious symbols as offering substances, moving throughout, inside and outside of the assembly hall with the offering melodies. Based on those dreams, these images were created. Therefore, in whatever place these images are kept, may all negativities, disharmony, and decline be pacified. May virtue and goodness increase like the waxing moon and may there be the auspiciousness of enjoying abundant glory!
