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According to the legend, the practitioners of Tantric Buddhism who went for pilgrimage in Nepal obtained Dzi Bead as an amulet from their guru (spiritual teacher). Another way of saying is that Dzi Bead was traded for a living from the Tibetan refugees. These special beads are considered as the gifts fell from Heaven. Dzi Beads are believed that have mysterious power to protect refugees and bring good luck. Practitioners of Tantric Buddhism call them "Tianzhu" to represent the respect and rareness.
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According to the traditional legend, the places that Dzi Beads had been found out and gained are mythological and legendary. Given below are the legends associated with the origin of Dzi Beads :
(1) Plankton from the ancient sea : In the origin form, the Dzi Bead were like mollusks and conches with a fleshy body protected by a shell. They can move about freely. After the orogeny, the ancient sea became the Himalayas. The plankton died, their flesh dried up and their shells turned into Dzi Beads.
(2) Painted stone from India : A couple who lived in the Himalayas painted designs onto an unique kind of India stone to create Dzi Bead. Since the skill to paint the stone was very difficult and it's hard to learn, the skill lost after they dead.
(3) Meteorites from outer space : Meteorites fell from outer space onto the fields were refined and tempered into Dzi Beads by yogic practitioners.
(4) Snake-Like living things : Dzi Bead were living things that could move about like snakes. When they were found and touched, they stopped moving and turned into a string of Dzi Bead.
(5) Appear in fields : Dzi Bead were buried deep underground. The geological movements exposed them on the surface and they were picked up by farmers during fieldwork.
(6) Insects that can fly, run and crawl : The flying and running insects were covered by Lama's long sleeves and became Dzi Bead. The crawling insects on the ground will harden into Dzi Bead when human being throw sand on them.
(7) Caught in Dzi Bead meadow : People with good karma can see Dzi Bead flying above the Tibetan Dzi Bead meadow. After being captured they will become fossils.
(8) The weapon of Asura : Asura belongs to one of the six classes of living beings. He always acts against the Sakyamumi Buddha. Therefore he is considered as a non-god, non-divine and non-human being character. He makes Dzi Bead as weapons.
(9) Precious jewels of gods : Tibetans believed that Dzi Bead are the precious jewels of gods that discard the blemished ones to human world. This explains why it is extremely difficult to find a perfect Dzi Bead.
(10) From Dzi Bead stream in Ngari : In the legend that there were Dzi Bead flowing continuously like a stream from a mountain near Rutog in Ngari. One day, a wicked woman with "evil eye" conjured toward the stream, the flow of Dzi Bead immediately stopped. As the story goes, the place of stream with obvious black and white Dzi Bead patterns still could be found.
(11) Magic beads cast by Vajravarahi Buddha : During those early years when Tibet was overwhelmed by severe epidemic, Tibetans suffered and they lived in very hard life. Fortunately, the compassionate Vajravarahi Buddha came to relieve them by dropping from the sky magic Dzi Bead. People who were predestined to obtain them would be relieved from disease, calamities and bad luck.
(12) Celestial flowers sprinkled by Manjusuri Buddha : It is said that a severe epidemic spread across the Himalayas around three thousand years ago. Many people died and great loss was incurred. Manjusri Buddha is the former incarnation of Manjusri Bodhisattva. When he passed the sky above the Himalayas, he saw that the Tibetans were living in great turmoil, a great compassion grew from his heart. He then sprinkled Dzi Bead down to the human world. Whoever found them and picked them up would have their disease cured.
(13) Precious stones in the treasury of the Tagzig kingdom : After King Gesar of the Ling Kingdom defeated the Tagzig Kingdom, he had found out many precious items, including Dzi Bead. King Gesar bestow the Dzi Bead to his soldiers and then carried them back to Tibet. At that time, Dzi Bead spread all over the region.
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(1) The finest adornment for Buddha Images : This tradition can be traced back to the ancient time. The Jokhang Monastery in Lhasa offers the finest examples.
(2) The most precious gemstone in Tibet : The value of a gemstone is determined by its beauty, rarity and durability. It is also determined by ethnic and culture difference. To the Tibetans, the most precious gemstone is neither jadeite nor diamond, but Dzi Bead.
(3) Dzi Bead can be accepted by banks for loan : In Tibet, the ancient and pure Dzi Bead can be accepted by the People's Bank and City Credit Bureau as collateral security for loans. Dzi Beads are money in Tibetan culture, they can be changed into cash anytime.
(4) The handiest property : Due to its small size, Dzi Beads are easy to keep and carry. Aristocrats and rich people in Tibet use domestic animals and farming field to exchange for Dzi Beads. If necessary, they spend money to purchase it.
(5) The best amulet : Dzi Beads are the most popular tools to ward off evil spirits. They are considered the most precious and efficacious amulet in Tibet.
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The motifs of Dzi Bead can be generally grouped into dots, stripes, rectangles, circles, triangles, lozenges, polygons, seed syllables, irregular patterns, animal designs, abstract designs and special symbols. Those are mostly according to Tantric Buddhism ceremony and scriptures to find out the symbolical meaning of different signs. Here are 4 interpretation below.
(1) Homa of peace : represented by white color and a circle sign. It is meant for preventing calamities, averting misfortune and eliminating obstacles.
(2) Homa of development : represented by yellow color and square sign. It is meant for prospering business, multiplying wealth, gaining fortune and wisdom.
(3) Homa of perfection : represented by red color and a crescent sign. It is meant for improving health, perfecting relationship and building leadership.
(4) Homa of force : represented by black color and a triangular sign. It is meant for warding off harmful forces, subjugating demons and expelling evil obstructions.
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