The chatra or chhatra, also known under various translations including the ceremonial, state, royal, or holy umbrella or parasol, is a symbol of royal and imperial power and sanctity in
Indian art and a symbol of holiness in
Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...
,
Jainism
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion whose three main pillars are nonviolence (), asceticism (), and a rejection of all simplistic and one-sided views of truth and reality (). Jainism traces its s ...
, and
Buddhism
Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
. There are also various specific forms, including 3-, 7-, 8-, and 9-tiered chatra and the bejewelled chatraratna.
India and Tibet
In
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
, the chatra was an ancient symbol of kingship and emperorship, representing both kingly power and righteousness. In particular, it is employed in depictions of
chakravartis, the supposed holy emperors over the entire earth. It is also reckoned one of the
ashtamangala
The Ashtamangala () is the sacred set of Eight Auspicious Signs ( zh, 八吉祥, ''bajixiang'') featured in a number of Indian religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. The symbols or "symbolic attributes" () are yidam and teaching too ...
, the eight holy symbols of enlightened
sages and
buddhas, in
Digambar Jainism
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion whose three main pillars are nonviolence (), asceticism (), and a rejection of all simplistic and one-sided views of truth and reality (). Jainism traces its s ...
,
Vajrayana Buddhism, and other
Dharmic faiths.
In
Hindu mythology, Chatra can itself be recognized as a deity,
yidam, and
ishta-devata. More often, it is an emblem of various gods including
Varuna,
Ganesha
Ganesha or Ganesh (, , ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped Deva (Hinduism), deities in the Hindu deities, Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in the Ganapatya sect. His depictions ...
(particularly during
Ganesh Chaturthi),
Revanta,
Surya,
Vishnu
Vishnu (; , , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation ( ...
in his
Vamana avatar, and
Vishvakarman.
In the
chakra systems of Dharmic faiths and
traditional Indian and
Tibetan medicine, the chatra is used as a symbol of the
sahasrara, the crown chakra.
File:Vasudeva Krishna on a coin of Agathocles of Bactria circa 180 BCE.jpg, A chatra crowning Vāsudeva-Krishna on a coin
A coin is a small object, usually round and flat, used primarily as a medium of exchange or legal tender. They are standardized in weight, and produced in large quantities at a mint in order to facilitate trade. They are most often issued by ...
of Agathocles of Bactria
Bactria (; Bactrian language, Bactrian: , ), or Bactriana, was an ancient Iranian peoples, Iranian civilization in Central Asia based in the area south of the Oxus River (modern Amu Darya) and north of the mountains of the Hindu Kush, an area ...
,
File:Buddha, Mathura IIe s. Musée Guimet.jpg, Mathura statue of a bodhisattva
In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is a person who has attained, or is striving towards, '' bodhi'' ('awakening', 'enlightenment') or Buddhahood. Often, the term specifically refers to a person who forgoes or delays personal nirvana or ''bodhi'' in ...
crowned by a chatra
File:Umbrella with Eight Auspicious Motifs - Circa 1st-2nd Century CE - Gita Enclave - ACCN 75-32 - Government Museum - Mathura 2013-02-23 5698.JPG , Mathura chatra,
vishwakarmaji.png , Vishvakarman with chatra
File:Chandragupt maurya Birla mandir 6 dec 2009 (31).JPG , with chatra
Chhatra.jpg , The chatra of the Tijara Jain temple in Rajasthan
Rajasthan (; Literal translation, lit. 'Land of Kings') is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the List of states and union territories of ...
Image:Parasol.svg , A chatra diagram
Myanmar
In
Burmese culture, the chatra is known as the
hti. It is used as
regalia and employed at the crowns of
Burmese pagodas.
File:Saya Chone's "Royal Audience".png , Htis flanking the throne in Saya Chone's 1907 "Royal Audience"
File:Head of Shwedagon Pagoda.JPG , Shwedagon Pagoda's hti
File:Mandalay, Ku Tho Daw 12.jpg , Kuthodaw Pagoda's hti
Thailand
In
Thai culture, the chatra developed into the white
Royal Nine-Tiered Umbrella, part of the country's regalia. Properly, only a
crowned king may use the 9-tiered umbrella, uncrowned kings and other members of the royal family being restricted to a 7-tier form. The 9-tiered chatra is used as the logo of Royal Umbrella rice.
[NTUC Fairprice]
Royal Umbrella Fragrant Rice 5KG
2017.
Gran Palacio, Bangkok, Tailandia, 2013-08-22, DD 57.jpg , Thailand's Royal Nine-Tiered Umbrella attached to a throne inside a hall in the Grand Palace, Bangkok
Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...
King Prajadhipok Signs Constitution of Siam 1932.jpg , A 9-tiered umbrella beside the throne as King Prajadhipok signs a constitution
A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organization or other type of entity, and commonly determines how that entity is to be governed.
When these pri ...
in Ananta Samakhom Hall
พระราชพิธี เจ้าฟ้าเพชร 1.jpg , A 7-tiered umbrella over the urn of Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda as it is moved to the Great Chariot of Victory
File:Nobapadol Maha Svetachatra above King Bhumibol Adulyadej's funeral pyre.jpg , A 9-tiered umbrella over the funeral pyre of King Bhumibol Adulyadej
See also
*
Baldachin, a similar concept in European iconography
*
Chhatrapati
References
Footnotes
Bibliography
*
Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend () by Anna Dallapiccola
General Buddhist Symbols
External links
*
Buddhist ritual implements
Buddhist symbols
Ritual weapons
Hindu symbols
Indian iconography
Jain symbols
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