Chatra (umbrella)

Chatra

The chatra (from Sanskrit: छत्र, meaning "umbrella")^{[lower-alpha 1]} is an auspicious symbol in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.

The chatra in various traditions

According to Hindu mythology, it is the emblem of Varuna, also considered an embodiment of kingship. Chatra 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 chatra 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 chatra 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.

The Royal Nine-Tiered Umbrella is one of the royal regalias of Thailand.

Gallery

• 
  A chatra crowning Vāsudeva-Krishna on a coin of Agathocles of Bactria, circa 180 BCE.^[2]
• 
  Statue of a Bodhisattva crowned by a chatra, Mathura art.
• 
  Vishvakarman, Divine Architect of Vedas in a modern Hindu representation: note chhatra.
• 
  A modern statue of Chandragupta Maurya under a chatra.
• 
  A closeup of Shwedagon Pagoda's hti.
• 
  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

• Hti
• Royal Nine-Tiered Umbrella

Notes

References

Footnotes

Bibliography

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