Victory is a powerful word that evokes images of a battle, victory goes to the winner of the battle. There are many different symbols of victory, some with ancient origins, as battles have taken place in all cultures since the beginning of creation. Some of these symbols include the conch, the peacock, the resurrection of Christ, the letter V, Mount Kailash, the Greek goddess Nike, and the victory banner. Because symbolism and storytelling are commonly linked to teaching, religious and spiritual writings often use the word victory in reference to divine victory over human limitations and ignorance.
The word Victoria in the English language comes from Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory, and counterpart to the Greek goddess Nike, who is said to have assumed the role of the god’s personal charioteer in the War of the Titans. Nike’s wings supposedly symbolize the fleeting nature of victory.
The letter V can mean victory on its own. It was used extensively during World War II, and today it is a generally accepted finger sign for victory around the world.
In spiritual terms, the word victory is used in connection with a divine victory, the victory of light over darkness, good over evil. Ancient battles were often fought when situations forced the powers of good to confront the powers of darkness, as in The Mahabharata, the famous Indian epic brimming with symbolism and still very applicable to our own era and indeed to ourselves. A famous symbol of victory from the Mahabharata is the conch shell, which was blown by the famous warriors at the Battle of Kurukshetra. The conch shell has become an important part of Indian tradition and is still used today as part of daily spiritual practices.
“Of all musical instruments, the conch is the most sacred and spiritual. The cosmic Gods and Goddesses hold the conch. Sri Krishna, Arjuna and all the heroes of the highest level used the conch. It is the symbol of victory.”
– Sri Chinmoy.
In Sanskrit, the word for victory is dhvaja, which means banner, flag, or sign. Originally, the Victory Banner was a military banner carried in ancient Indian wars and bore the specific insignia of its champion. For example, in the Mahabharata, Sri Krishna’s chariot was adorned with a banner displaying the image of Hanuman, the great devotee of Lord Rama.
The Victory Banner is also used in Buddhism as an emblem of the Buddha’s enlightenment, announcing the triumph of knowledge over ignorance. It is said that it was placed on top of Mount Meru by Lord Buddha himself, symbolizing his victory over the entire universe. Again, Mount Meru is believed to be the central axis that supports the world.
In Tibetan Buddhism, Mount Kailash in the Himalayas is a symbol of victory. Milarepa, commonly known as the greatest yogi of Tibet, said
“There is no more powerful, wounder, or wonderful place for practice than this; all pilgrims and practitioners are welcome!”
The peacock appears in many Hindu religious myths and legends as a protector and symbol of victory. Since a potentially deadly emotion such as anger is represented as a snake, and the peacock is immune to snake venom, the peacock symbolizes victory over poisonous tendencies in conscious people. In Christianity too, the Peacock is a symbol of victory, and also of immortality, due to the periodic renewal of its splendid feathers. In Christianity, Christ’s victory over Death is said to be the most glorious victory in history, so the Resurrection has been used to symbolize this theme.
