Chatra (umbrella)

Chatra

Chhatra (Template:Lang-sa "parasol") or chhatraratna (Template:Lang-sa "jewelled/precious parasol"; Tibetan: རིནཆེན་གདུགས, Wylie: rin chen gdugs) is an auspicious symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism.

According to Hindu mythology, 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 chatra, and they include Revanta, Surya, 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, traditional Tibetan medicine thangkas and Ayurvedic 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 chhatra shares a similar symbolic value to the baldachin, refer image of Vishvakarman.

Gallery

• 
  Vishvakarman, Divine Architect of Vedas in a modern Hindu representation: note chhatra.
• 
  A white chatra attached to a throne inside a hall in the Grand Palace, Bangkok
• 
  King Prajadhipok of Thailand signs a constitution within the Ananta Samakhom Hall. A large white chhatra is seen nearby his seat.
• 
  A white chhatra hangs over the urn of Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda of Thailand whilst the urn is being moved up to the Great Chariot of Victory
• 
  Chhatra kept in office of Tijara Jain temple, Rajasthan

See also

• Flower Sermon

References

• Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola
• General Buddhist Symbols