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The Shrivatsa (Sanskrit श्रीवत्स śrīvatsa) is an ancient symbol, considered auspicious in India.
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Srivatsa means "beloved of Sri", the goddess Lakshmi. It is a mark on the chest of Vishnu where his consort Sri Lakshmi resides. It is said that the tenth avatar of Vishnu, Kalki, will bear the Shrivatsa mark on his chest.It is one of the names of Vishnu in the Vishnu Sahasranamam. Srivatsa is a popular name in Andhra Pradesh,Telangana and Tamil Nadu.
In Buddhism, the Srivatsa is said to be a feature of the tutelary deity (Tibetan: yidam) Manjusri the Youth (Skt: Manjusrikumarabhuta). Tibetan Buddhists depict the shrivatsa as a triangular swirl or an endless knot.
In Jain iconography
In Jainism, it often marks the chest of the Tirthankara image. It is one of the ashtamangala (auspicious symbol).
Other uses
The shrivatsa is the symbol of Rakhine State and the Rakhine people of Burma.