Chatra (umbrella)

The chhatra (from छत्र, meaning "umbrella") is an auspicious symbol in Hinduism, Jainism 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 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 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. 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. 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]], [https://www.academia.edu/25807197 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).