Chatra (umbrella)

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.^{[citation needed]} In various Dharmic traditions it is an accoutrement of chakravartin.

A number of deities are depicted with chatra, including Ganesha (especially during Ganesh Chaturthi), 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 chatra shares a similar symbolic value to the baldachin, refer image of Vishvakarman.

In Burmese culture, 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.^[3]

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  A chatra crowning Vāsudeva-Krishna on a coin of Agathocles of Bactria, c. 180 BCE.^[4]
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  Statue of a Bodhisattva crowned by a chatra, Mathura art
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  Umbrella with Eight Auspicious Motifs, c. 1st-2nd Century CE. Mathura Museum
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  Vishvakarman, Divine Architect of Vedas in a modern Hindu representation: note chatra
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  A modern statue of Chandragupta Maurya under a chatra
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  A closeup of Shwedagon Pagoda's hti
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  The Royal Nine-Tiered Umbrella (Nobapadol Mahasvetachatra) attached to a throne inside a hall in the Grand Palace, Bangkok. Only a crowned king can use an umbrella with nine-tiers, until then he must make do with only seven.
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  King Prajadhipok of Thailand signs a constitution within the Ananta Samakhom Hall. A large white chatra is seen nearby his throne.
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  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, the seven-tiered umbrella denotes her rank as a royal princess.
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  Nobapadol Mahasvetachatra (nine-tiered-white-umbrella) over the funeral pyre of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
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  Chatra kept in office of Tijara Jain temple, Rajasthan
• 
  A chatra symbol

• Hti
• Royal Nine-Tiered Umbrella

Footnotes

Bibliography

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

• Media related to Chatra at Wikimedia Commons