When Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a Daruma doll during his recent visit to Japan, the moment was more than a simple exchange of gifts. It was a reminder of how symbols travel across borders, evolve with cultures, and yet preserve their spiritual essence. The Daruma doll, often regarded in Japan as a charm for perseverance and good fortune, carries within it the echoes of India’s ancient philosophical traditions.
Origins Rooted in India
The Daruma doll is inspired by Bodhidharma, a 5th-century monk from Kancheepuram, India. Known in Japan as Daruma Daishi, he is credited with founding Zen Buddhism after traveling to China. His legendary nine years of meditation—sitting motionless, facing a wall—became the basis of the doll’s unique design: rounded, limbless, and unblinking. The very name “Daruma” comes from “Dharma,” Sanskrit for universal law, underlining its Indian spiritual foundation.
Symbolism of Resilience
Crafted from papier-mâché, Daruma dolls are designed with a weighted base so that they always return upright when tipped over. This feature embodies the Japanese proverb “Fall seven times, stand up eight”, a philosophy of persistence in adversity. The ritual of painting in one eye when setting a goal and the other upon achieving it transforms the doll into a living metaphor for human determination—progress is only complete when purpose is fulfilled.
Daruma-ji: The Temple of Perseverance
The Shorinzan Daruma-ji Temple in Takasaki, founded in 1697, is the spiritual home of the Daruma doll. It grew into a cultural and economic hub, producing dolls that emperors, shoguns, and commoners alike sought for blessings of victory and success. Even today, students and entrepreneurs flock to the temple to seek good fortune, illustrating how an ancient symbol continues to shape modern aspirations.
India–Japan Cultural Convergence
What makes the Daruma doll particularly fascinating is its dual identity. For Japan, it is a local icon of luck and resilience. For India, it is a reminder of Bodhidharma—the wandering monk whose teachings seeded Zen. In this sense, the Daruma is not merely a talisman but a cultural bridge, embodying shared philosophies of perseverance, discipline, and spiritual awakening.
At a time when global diplomacy often emphasizes economics and defense, the Daruma doll reminds us that cultural symbols can be just as powerful in binding nations together. A small figure with blank eyes, it urges us to envision our goals clearly—and to rise, again and again, until they are fulfilled.