Victory is a powerful word that conjures up images of a battle, victory is for 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 shell, the peacock, the resurrection of Christ, the letter V, Mount Kailash, the Greek goddess Nike, and the banner of victory. As symbolism and narrative are commonly linked with 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 stand for victory on its own. It was used extensively during WWII and today is a generally accepted finger sign for victory around the world.
In spiritual terms, the word victory is used in relation to 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 that is brimming with symbolism and is still very applicable to our own era, and indeed to ourselves. A famous symbol of the victory of the Mahabharata is the conch shell, which was blown by the famous warriors at the Battle of Kurukshetra. The shell has become an important part of Indian tradition and is still used today as part of daily spiritual practices.
“Of all the 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 order used the conch. It is the symbol of victory.”
– Sri Chinmoy.
In Sanskrit, the word victory is dhvaja, which means standard, flag, or sign. Originally, the banner of victory was a military banner that was carried in ancient Indian warfare and bore the specific insignia of its champion. For example, in the Mahabharata, Sri Krishna’s chariot was adorned with a banner showing the image of Hanuman, the great devotee of Lord Rama.
The banner of victory is also used in Buddhism as an emblem of Buddha’s enlightenment, heralding 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. Once again, Mount Meru is believed to be the central axis that sustains the world.
In Tibetan Buddhism, Mount Kailash in the Himalayas is a symbol of victory. Milarepa, commonly known as the greatest yogi in Tibet, said
“There is no place more powerful, more blessed, or more wonderful than this; may all pilgrims and practitioners be welcome!”
The peacock appears in many Hindu religious myths and legends as a protector and symbol of victory. Since a life-threatening emotion like anger is depicted as a snake, and the peacock is immune to snake venom, the peacock symbolizes victory over poisonous tendencies in conscious people. Also in Christianity, 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, which is why The Resurrection has been used to symbolize this theme.