Chakravarti (Sanskrit term)
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Chakravarti | |
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Sanskrit name | |
Hán-Nôm | 転輪王 or 転輪聖王 |
A chakravarti (
The word cakra-vartin- is a bahuvrīhi compound word, translating to "one whose wheels are moving", in the sense of "whose chariot is rolling everywhere without obstruction". It can also be analysed as an 'instrumental bahuvrīhi: "through whom the wheel is moving" in the meaning of "through whom the Dharmachakra ("Wheel of the Dharma) is turning" (most commonly used in Buddhism).[citation needed] The Tibetan equivalent ཁོར་ལོས་སྒྱུར་བའི་རྒྱལ་པོ་ (khor los sgyur ba'i rgyal po) translates to "monarch who controls by means of a wheel".[citation needed]
In Buddhism, a chakravarti is the secular counterpart of a buddha. The term applies to temporal as well as spiritual kingship and leadership, particularly in Buddhism and Jainism. In Hinduism, a chakravarti is a powerful ruler whose dominion extends to the entire earth. In both religions, the chakravarti is supposed to uphold dharma, indeed being "he who turns the wheel (of dharma)".
The Indian concept of chakravarti later evolved[
Hinduism
According to the traditions "Vishnu, in the form of Chakra, was held as the ideal of worship for Kings desirous of obtaining Universal Sovereignty",[4]: 48 a concept associated with the Bhagavata Puranas, a religious sanction traceable to the Gupta period,[5] which also led to the chakravartin concept.[4]: 65 There are relatively few examples of chakravartins in both northern and southern India.
Bharata, the son of Dushyanta and Shakuntala, was conferred the title of cakravartin samrāj, according to some legends. Another emperor of the same name, who was the son of Rishabha, was also given the title cakravartin.
In Southern India, the Pallava period beginning with Simhavishnu (575–900 CE) was a transitional stage in southern Indian society with monument building, establishment of (bhakti) sects of Alvars and Nayanars, flowering of rural Brahmanical institutions of Sanskrit learning, and the establishment of Chakravartin model of kingship over a territory of diverse people; which ended the pre-Pallavan era of territorially segmented people, each with their culture, under a tribal chieftain.[6] The Pallava period extolled ranked relationships based on ritual purity as enjoined by the shastras.[7] Burton distinguishes between the Chakravatin model and the Kshatriya model, and likens kshatriyas to locally based warriors with ritual status sufficiently high enough to share with Brahmins; and states that in south India the kshatriya model did not emerge.[7] As per Burton, South India was aware of the Indo-Aryan Varna organized society in which decisive secular authority was vested in the Kshatriyas; but apart from the Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagar line of warriors which claimed Chakravartin status, only few locality warrior families achieved the prestigious kin-linked organization of northern warrior groups.[7]
Jainism
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During the each motion of the half-cycle of the wheel of time, 63 Salakapurusa or 63 illustrious men, consisting of the 12 Chakravartin regularly appear.
The list of 12 chakravartin of Avasarpini as per Jainism is as follows[9]
- Bharata, son of Tirthankara Rishabhanatha
- Sagara, ancestor of Bhagiratha as in the Puranas
- Maghava[10]: 306
- Sanata Kumara[10]: 306
- Tirthankara Shantinatha
- Tirthankara Kunthunatha[10]: 308
- Tirthankara Aranatha[10]: 308
- Subhauma[10]: 308
- Padmanabha
- Harishena
- Jayasena
- Brahmadatta
In Jainism, a Chakravartin Samrat was characterised by his possession of Saptaratna, or "Seven Jewels":[citation needed]
- Ratna-Chakra, a miraculous diamond serrated discus that never misses its target
- Empress
- Divine Jewellery
- Immense Wealth
- Huge Army of War-Chariots
- Huge Army of Cavalry
- Huge Army of Elephants
Some lists cite
Buddhism
It was believed that once a chakravarti emerged the "Future Buddha" Maitreya would appear on earth.[3]: 175
In early Buddhist art there are more than 30 depictions, all from the
The
See also
Similar Indic concepts
Generic similar concepts
Spread and evolution of Chakravarti concept beyond India
References
Citations
- ^ Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 81.
- ^ "Chakravartin | Indian ruler". Encyclopædia Britannica.
- ^ ISSN 0068-5909.
- ^ a b Wayne Edison Begley (1973). Viṣṇu's flaming wheel: the iconography of the Sudarśana-cakra. Monographs on archaeology and fine arts. Vol. 27. New York: New York University Press.
- ^ Śrīrāma Goyala, (1967). A history of the Imperial Guptas, p.137. Central Book Depot.
- ^ Stein, Burton (1980). Peasant state and society in medieval South India. Oxford University Press. pp. 63–64.
- ^ a b c Burton Stein (1980). Peasant state and society in medieval South India. Oxford University Press. p. 70.
- ISBN 0-87779-044-2.
- ^ Jaini, Jagmanderlal, F.W. Thomas (ed.), Outlines of Jainism appendix III.
- ^ ISBN 81-208-1376-6.
- ISBN 9783034306829.
Sources
- Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola
- Cakkavatti Sutta The Wheel-turning Emperor (excerpt) Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
- A Glossary of Pali and Buddhist Terms