The Three Symbols of Victory
in the Fight Against Disharmony
mi-mthun g.yul-rgyal
The Symbols of Victory in the Fight Against Disharmony, or Disagreement, are three mythical animals, each of which is composed of parts of two mutually hostile beasts:
 The Fur-Bearing Fish |
 The Eight-Legged Lion |
 The Makara Crocodile |
According to myth, they are each supposed to have sprung from the union of two rival animals. The text Grub-chen lu-ipa'i lugs-kyi dpal 'khor-lo sdom-pa'i bskyet-rim he-ru-ka'i szal-lung gives the following short descriptions:
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The eight-legged lion (seng-ge rkang-pa brgyad-pa) is the son of a union of a garuda and a lion. He has the overall body of a lion, [but] with two wings. He has claws at the knees...
The fur-bearing fish (nya spu rgyas-pa) is the son of a fish and an otter. He has the overall body of a fish, [but] with an otter's fur...
The makara crocodile (chu-srin ma-ka-ra) is the son of a snail and a crocodile. His whole body is firm like a snail shell. He is [also] generally regarded as the son of a union between crocodile, dragon, and snake. His tail forms entwined patterns (pa-tra).
In artistic representations, the lion, contrary to the text, always has the head of a garuda. The claws at his knees are very seldom depicted.
The fish is nearly always shown with the body of an otter, but with a fish's head and flippers.
Although the Tibetan term chu-srin is always translated "crocodile" in the secondary literature, in Sino-Tibetan literature it is more of a fabulous monster than a crocodile. Accordingly, when depicted in combination with the snail shell, it is shown having a head with a mane, and its shape is only vaguely reminiscent of a normal crocodile.
The animal applications always take the form of the three pairs of animals described here. The use of these animal symbols represents a strong tendrel for the spreading of harmony is that they depict combinations of mutually hostile animals. The victory signs thus adorned are called "signs of victory in the fight against disharmony" (mi-mthung.yul-las rgyal-ba'I rgyal-mtshan).
These symbolic beasts are also shown on painted scrolls, miniature cult pictures, painted on walls and beams, on tents and marquees, tables, beds, and vessels for religious and everyday use, as butter ornaments for sacrificial cakes and depicted on thrones.
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From Buddhist Symbols in Tibetan Culture by Dagyab Rinpoche, foreword by Robert A. F. Thurman, Wisdom Publications, Boston, MA, USA
ISBN 0 86171 047 9