Chhatra

Chhatra (Sanskrit:छत्र "parasol") or chhatraratna (Sanskrit:छत्ररत्न "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.