The ''chhatra'' (from sa, छत्र, meaning "umbrella") "jewelled/precious parasol" is an auspicious symbol in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.

The ''chhatra'' in various traditions

According to

Hindu mythology Hindu mythology is the body of myths and literature attributed to, and espoused by, the adherents of the Hindu religion, found in Hindu texts such as the Vedic literature, epics like ''Mahabharata'' and ''Ramayana'', the Puranas, and reg ...

, it is the emblem of Varuna, also considered an embodiment of kingship. ''Chhatra'' is also a deity, yidam and ishta-devata. In various Dharmic traditions it is an accoutrement of '' chakravartin''. A number of deities are depicted with ''chhatra'', and they include Revanta,

Surya Surya (; sa, सूर्य, ) is the sun as well as the solar deity in Hinduism. He is traditionally one of the major five deities in the Smarta tradition, all of whom are considered as equivalent deities in the Panchayatana puja and a m ...

, and Vishnu (in his Vamana avatar). The ''chhatra'' is cordoned amongst the symbols that approach universality within the numerous octavalent suites or sets of Ashtamangala, e.g., in the Digambar Jain tradition, and the Vajrayana tradition. In Dharmic tradition

iconography Iconography, as a branch of art history, studies the identification, description and interpretation of the content of images: the subjects depicted, the particular compositions and details used to do so, and other elements that are distinct fro ...

, traditional Tibetan medicine thangkas and

Ayurvedic Ayurveda () is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent. The theory and practice of Ayurveda is pseudoscientific. Ayurveda is heavily practiced in India and Nepal, where around 80% of the population rep ...

diagrams, the ''chhatra'' is uniformly represented as the Sahasrara. In Vajrayana Buddhism, the umbrella or parasol is included in the 'Eight Auspicious Signs' or

Ashtamangala The Ashtamangala is a sacred suite of ''Eight Auspicious Signs'' endemic to a number of religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. The symbols or "symbolic attributes" () are yidam and teaching tools. Not only do these attributes (or e ...

. The ''chhatra'' shares a similar symbolic value to the baldachin, refer image of Vishvakarman. In

Burmese culture The culture of Myanmar (also known as Burma) ( my, မြန်မာ့ယဉ်ကျေးမှု) has been heavily influenced by Buddhism. Burmese culture has also been influenced by its neighbours. In more recent times, British colonial ...

, the '' hti'' is considered regalia, and also crowns Burmese pagodas. The Royal Nine-Tiered Umbrella is one part of the royal regalia of Thailand, and appears in connection with this role in the logo of Royal Umbrella rice.

Gallery

File:Vasudeva Krishna on a coin of Agathocles of Bactria circa 180 BCE.jpg, A ''chatra'' crowning Vāsudeva-Krishna on a coin of Agathocles of Bactria, circa 180 BCE. Osmund Bopearachchi
Emergence of Viṣṇu and Śiva Images in India: Numismatic and Sculptural Evidence
2016. File:Buddha, Mathura IIe s. Musée Guimet.jpg, Statue of a Bodhisattva crowned by a ''chatra'', Mathura art File:Umbrella with Eight Auspicious Motifs - Circa 1st-2nd Century CE - Gita Enclave - ACCN 75-32 - Government Museum - Mathura 2013-02-23 5698.JPG, Umbrella with Eight Auspicious Motifs, circa 1st-2nd Century CE. Mathura Museum vishwakarmaji.png, Vishvakarman, Divine Architect of Vedas in a modern Hindu representation: note ''chhatra'' File:Chandragupt maurya Birla mandir 6 dec 2009 (31).JPG, A modern statue of

Chandragupta Maurya Chandragupta Maurya (350-295 BCE) was a ruler in Ancient India who expanded a geographically-extensive kingdom based in Magadha and founded the Maurya dynasty. He reigned from 320 BCE to 298 BCE. The Maurya kingdom expanded to become an empi ...

under a ''chatra'' File:Head of Shwedagon Pagoda.JPG, A closeup of Shwedagon Pagoda's '' hti'' Gran Palacio, Bangkok, Tailandia, 2013-08-22, DD 57.jpg, The Royal Nine-Tiered Umbrella (''Nobapadol Mahasvetachatra'') attached to a throne inside a hall in the

Grand Palace The Grand Palace ( th, พระบรมมหาราชวัง, Royal Institute of Thailand. (2011). ''How to read and how to write.'' (20th Edition). Bangkok: Royal Institute of Thailand. .) is a complex of buildings at the heart of Ban ...

, Bangkok. Only a crowned king can use an umbrella with nine-tiers, until then he must make do with only seven. Prajadhipok's coronation records - 001.jpg, King

Prajadhipok Prajadhipok ( th, ประชาธิปก, RTGS: ''Prachathipok'', 8 November 1893 – 30 May 1941), also Rama VII, was the seventh monarch of Siam of the Chakri dynasty. His reign was a turbulent time for Siam due to political and ...

of Thailand signs a constitution within the Ananta Samakhom Hall. A large white ''chatra'' is seen nearby his throne. พระราชพิธี เจ้าฟ้าเพชร 1.jpg, A ''Saptapadol Mahasvetachatra'' (seven-tiered-white-umbrella) hangs over the urn of Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda of Thailand whilst the urn is being moved up to the

Great Chariot of Victory Great may refer to: Descriptions or measurements * Great, a relative measurement in physical space, see Size * Greatness, being divine, majestic, superior, majestic, or transcendent People * List of people known as "the Great" *Artel Great (born ...

, the seven-tiered umbrella denotes her rank as a royal princess. File:Nobapadol Maha Svetachatra above King Bhumibol Adulyadej's funeral pyre.jpg, ''Nobapadol Mahasvetachatra'' (nine-tiered-white-umbrella) over the funeral pyre of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Chhatra.jpg, ''Chatra'' kept in office of Tijara Jain temple, Rajasthan Image:Parasol.svg, A ''chatra'' symbol

Notes

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 {{hinduism-stub