Mangala Symbols in Buddhist Sanskrit Manuscripts from Gilgit and Central Asia
Symbols that often occur in early Sanskrit manuscripts from Gilgit and Central Asia are analyzed in this article. The author concludes that the vast majority of symbols considered in the article should be interpreted as a mangala-formula o#. Also, the article contains the assumption that the presence of mangala-shloka in Sanskrit manuscripts point to the need of some mangala-practices (performing a special worship ritual or yogic meditation), confirming the thesis of the indissoluble unity of the logical- discursive level of the religious doctrines existence and the yoga practice. The detailed analysis of the semantics of mangala-formula siddham demonstrates the main content of these mangalapractices.