THE TWO GOLDEN FISH

The eight auspicious symbols are a set of objects appearing in textiles, art and rituals across the Tibetan Plateau as reminders of the spiritual path to enlightenment in Tibetan Buddhism.

Each symbol represents certain virtues and meanings, transforming ordinary objects into sacred ones of cultural and religious significance and vessels of spiritual growth.

The two golden fish, or gser-nya སེར་ཉ་ in Tibetan, are one of the Auspicious symbols in Tibetan Buddhism. These symbols represent good fortune and the path to enlightenment, woven into Tibetan culture carrying specific meaning.

Fish in nature have long been associated with ideals of transformation, liberation and wisdom. The two golden fish, or coupled fish, originally find their origin as an ancient symbol for two rivers, the Ganges and Yamuna, fish are abundance, joy and spontaneity, as they have complete free movement in the water.

This auspicious symbol reflects the Buddha’s enlightened mind – agile and swift like the fish – moving through the world with freedom and fearlessness. The way a fish swims illustrating how an individual can navigate their mind towards personal development and awakening.