Swayembhu Nath Stupa Kathmandu, Nepal
Every stupa (Buddhist shrine) in Nepal, there are pairs of eyes staring out from the four sides of the main tower.The mysterious eyes, painted on all four sides of the stupa's spire, represent the eyes of the Buddha and face the four cardinal directions--east, west, north, and south.
These are called the Buddha Eyes (also known as Wisdom Eyes), and they look out in the four directions to symbolize the omniscience (all-seeing) of a Buddha.
Between the Buddha's eyes where the nose would be is a curly symbol that looks like question mark.This is the Nepali character for the number 1, which symbolizes unity of all the things as well as the one way to reach enlightenment—through the Buddha's teachings.
Circle above Buddha eye is the third eye (Tri-netra), symbolizing the all-seeing wisdom of the Buddha.
The Buddha eyes are so prevalent throughout the country that they have become a symbol of Nepal itself (Left picture is Sign for Our Gallery). We can find many handicraft symbolizing Buddha Eyes. ie:Pendents, Thanka paintings, rings, wood carvings etc.Below is some pendent of the Buddha eye, every coin has two part, in the other part of this pendent is sometime Double dorje and Tibetan "Om" and some pendents got Ying Yang or (Yab yum), also diferent symbols like Sun and Stars or Mantra Om Mani Padme Hum.
3 comments:
Thank You So Much !!!
I learned so much from this, and the pictures are the best illustration of what you were writing about.
-M-
I have seen versions of this symbol with a water drop like symbol instead of the circle third eye. can anyone explain this?
Thank you Friend,
I think the version you saw with the Water drop symbol is also consider as third eye because it is just only replacement with the circle.
I will Let you know if there is another meaning.
Best regards
Bharat
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