SUVARNAMATSYA

SUVARNAMATSYA

Suvarnamatsya in Sanskrit, is one of the Buddhists' Eight Auspicious Signs - ‘Ashtamangala'. The pair of golden fish (‘gSer.nya’ in Tibetan) that generally symbolize happiness. This symbol consists of two fish, which usually appear standing vertically with heads turned inwards towards each other. The pair of fish originated as an ancient pre-Buddhist symbol of the two sacred rivers of India, Ganga and Yamuna. Symbolically, these two rivers represent the lunar and solar channels, which which originate in the nostrils and carry the alternating rhythms of breath or prana. In Buddhism, the golden fish symbolize happiness, as they have complete freedom in water. They represent fertility and abundance as they multiply very rapidly. Fish often swim in pairs and in China they represented conjugal unity and fidelity, where a pair of fish would often be given as a wedding present. Essentially, the golden fish is an aspirational symbol, teaching man that the spiritual bliss which lies beyond samsara is infinitely more beautiful than anything he can experience in earthly life.