Chhatra (
Sanskrit:
छत्र "
parasol") or
chhatraratna (
Sanskrit:
छत्ररत्न "jewelled/precious parasol";
Tibetan:
རིནཆེན་གདུགས,
Wylie:
rin chen gdugs[1]) 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.
[citation needed] In various Dharmic traditions it is an accoutrement of
chakravartin. A number of deities are depicted with chhatra, 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 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.
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| Chhatra atop Sanchi MP, India. |
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| Chhatra atop Sanchi MP, India. |
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| Chhatra atop Sanchi MP, India. |
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| Chhatra atop Sanchi MP, India. |
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| Chhatra at the top of Sanchi, MP, India. |
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| Chhatra at Basanta Ras Leela, Manipur, India. |
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| Chhatra at Bali, Indonesia. |
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| Chatra. |
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| Chatra. |
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| Silver Chhatra. |
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| Chatra above Surya dev. |
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| Golden Chatra. |
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| Chatra atop building. |
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| Lord Ganesh with chatra atop. |
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| chatra with simhasan. |
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| Golden chatra. |
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| 3 storey chatra. |
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| Maitreya chhatra/canopy. |
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| Chatra diamond. |
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| Sacred chatra. |
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| chatra. |
One of the Eight auspicious symbols of Buddhism
The Parasol (Skt. chattra; Tib. gdugs):
Above the mountain is the dome of the sky. This is symbolized by the
umbrella, whose important function is to cast a shadow, the shadow of
protection. The dictionary defines a parasol as an umbrella used for
protection from the sun. Thus its function is to protect exclusively
from the heat rather than the rain - as the word parasol, meaning to
hold off the sun, and umbrella, meaning little shade, similarly imply.
The Sanskrit term chattra, also means mushroom, in an obvious reference
to its shape.
The parasol or umbrella is a traditional Indian symbol of both
protection and royalty. The ability to protect oneself against inclement
weather has always, in all cultures, been a status symbol. In Europe,
until a few decades ago, a sunshade was a status symbol for society
ladies. In Oriental thought, the fact that it protected the bearer from
the scorching heat of the sun was transferred into the religious sphere
as a "protection against the heat of defilements." Thus the coolness of
its shade symbolizes protection from the heat of suffering, desire, and
other spiritually harmful forces.
The dome of the umbrella is held aloft by a vertical handle (just like
the mountain upholds the sky), which is identified with the axis mundi,
or the central axis upholding the world. The umbrella is carried above
an important dignitary or the image of a deity, to indicate that the
person or symbol below the umbrella is in fact the center of the
universe, and also its spiritual support. Umbrellas seem to be
especially important in processional rites, being like mobile temples.
Thus, depictions of the Buddha often display an elaborate and large
umbrella above his head.
As it is held above the head it naturally symbolizes honor and respect.
In Vajrayana Buddhism, this large umbrella (atapatra) was even deified
into the thousand armed, -footed goddess Sitapatra, whose name literally
means the white umbrella.
In Tibet, depending on their status, various dignitaries were entitled
to different parasols, with religious heads being entitled to a silk one
and secular rulers to a parasol with embroidered peacock feathers.
Exalted personalities such as the Dalai Lama are entitled to both, and
in processions, first a peacock parasol and then a silk one is carried
after him.
The Tibetan version of the parasol was adopted from its royal Indian and
Chinese prototypes, and fashioned from a wooden, spoked frame with a
domed silk cover and hanging silk pendants making up an overhanging
skirt.
The dome symbolizes wisdom, and the hanging skirt, compassion. Thus the
composite form of the parasol signifies the union of these dual
elements.
Octagonal and square parasols are also common, representing the Noble
Eightfold Path and the four directional quarters respectively.
One of the Eight Auspicious Symbols
The Precious Parasol (Sanskrit: Chhatra) or Sacred Umbrella which is
similar in ritual function to the baldachin or canopy. Muller Ebeling,
Ratsch & Shahi (2002) scholarly chart the origins of the Sacred
Parasol as a symbolic depiction of sacred medicinal and hallucinogenic
mushrooms of the Himalayan pharmacopeia; representing the protection of
beings from harmful forces, illness; represents the canopy or firmament
of the sky and therefore the expansiveness and unfolding of space and
the element aether; represents the expansiveness, unfolding and
protective quality of the sahasrara; under the auspice of the precious
parasol all take refuge in the Dharma;
Reference
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