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{{short description|Ancient Indian term}}
{{Italic title}}
{{For multi|people named Chakravarti|Chakravarti (surname)|the 2015 Indian historical drama TV series|Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2015}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| ibox-order = sa, pi, zh, ja, vi
| san = चक्रवर्तिन्<br />{{transliteration|sa|cakravartin}}
| pli = cakkavatti
| t = 轉輪王
| p = Zhuǎnlúnwáng
| l = Wheel-Turning King
| t2 = 轉輪聖王
| p2 = Zhuǎnlún Shèngwáng
| l2 = Wheel-Turning Sacred King
| kanji = 転輪王 {{lang|en|or}} 転輪聖王
| romaji = Tenrin'ō {{lang|en|or}} Tenrinjōō
| vie = Chuyển Luân Vương {{lang|en|or}} Chuyển Luân Thánh Vương
| hn = 転輪王 {{lang|en|or}} 転輪聖王
}}
[[File:Indian Relief of Ashoka, circa 1st century BC, from the Amaravathi village, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh (India), in the Guimet Museum (Paris).jpg|thumb|''Chakravarti'', from [[Amaravati Stupa]], 1st century CE, using the "Imperial Gesture" and surrounded by his attributes. Possibly represents [[Ashoka]] of the [[Mauryan Empire]].]]
[[File:Kulothunga Chola III statchu in penneswaraar temple, peneswara madam villege krishnagiri district.jpg|thumb|[[Chola dynasty|Chola]] ruler [[Kulothunga Chola III|Kulothunga III]] would be addressed as Chakravarti.]]
A '''''chakravarti''''' ({{lang-sa|चक्रवर्तिन्|cakravartin}}) is an ideal (or idealized) universal ruler, in [[Indian history|the history]], [[Dharmic religion|religion]], and mythologies of India. The concept is present in [[Indian subcontinent]] cultural traditions, narrative myths and lore.<ref name=Madan>{{cite book|title=India through the ages |last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990 |url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada |page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/81 81] |editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref> There are three types of chakravarti: ''chakravala chakravarti'', an emperor who rules over all four of the continents (i.e., a universal monarch); ''dvipa chakravarti'', a ruler who governs only one of those continents; and ''pradesha chakravarti'', a monarch who leads the people of only a part of a continent, the equivalent of a local king.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/chakravartin|title=Chakravartin | Indian ruler |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica}}</ref> Dvipa chakravarti is particularly one who rules the entire [[Indian subcontinent]] (as in the case of the [[Mauryan Empire]]).<ref name="Rosenfield1967"/>{{rp|175}} The first references to a ''Chakravala Chakravartin'' appear in monuments from the time of the early Maurya Empire, in the 4th to 3rd century BCE, in reference to [[Chandragupta Maurya]] and his grandson [[Ashoka]].

The word {{lang|sa|cakra-vartin-}} is a [[bahuvrihi|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|date=February 2020}} The Tibetan equivalent {{bo-textonly|ཁོར་ལོས་སྒྱུར་བའི་རྒྱལ་པོ་}} ({{transliteration|bo|khor los sgyur ba'i rgyal po}}) translates to "monarch who controls by means of a wheel".{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

[[File:14 Ratna of Chakravartin.png|thumb|14 Ratnas of Chakravartin, 17th century manuscript]]
In Buddhism, a chakravarti is the secular counterpart of a [[Buddhahood|buddha]]. The term applies to temporal as well as spiritual kingship and leadership, particularly in [[Buddhist kingship|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 ([[Dharmachakra|of dharma]])".

The Indian concept of chakravarti later evolved{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} into the concept of [[devaraja]] – the [[Divine right of kings#Indic|divine right of kings]] – which was adopted by the [[Indianization of Southeast Asia|Indianised]] Hindu-Buddhist [[History of Indian influence on Southeast Asia|kingdoms of Southeast Asia]] through Hindu [[Brahmin]] scholars deployed from India to their courts. It was first adopted by Javanese Hindu-Buddhist empires such as [[Majapahit]]; through them by the [[Khmer Empire]]; and subsequently by the [[Monarchy of Thailand|Thai monarchs]].{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

== Hinduism ==
{{See also|Bharata (Jainism)|Bharata (Mahabharata)}}

According to the traditions "[[Vishnu]], in the form of [[Chakra]], was held as the ideal of worship for Kings desirous of obtaining Universal Sovereignty",<ref name="Begley1973"/>{{rp|48}} a concept associated with the [[Bhagavata]] [[Puranas]], a religious sanction traceable to the [[Gupta Empire|Gupta]] period,<ref>Śrīrāma Goyala, (1967). A history of the Imperial Guptas, p.137. Central Book Depot.</ref> which also led to the chakravartin concept.<ref name="Begley1973"/>{{rp|65}} There are relatively few examples of chakravartins in both northern and southern India.

[[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Bharata]], the son of Dushyanta and Shakuntala, was conferred the title of ''cakravartin samrāj'', according to some legends. [[Bharata (Jainism)|Another emperor of the same name]], who was the son of Rishabha, was also given the title ''cakravartin''.

In Southern India, the [[Pallava dynasty|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.<ref>{{cite book|first=Burton|last=Stein|author-link=Burton Stein|title=Peasant state and society in medieval South India |url=https://archive.org/details/peasantstatesoci0000stei|url-access=registration|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=1980|pages=[https://archive.org/details/peasantstatesoci0000stei/page/63 63–64]}}</ref> The [[Pallava dynasty|Pallava]] period extolled ranked relationships based on ritual purity as enjoined by the ''shastras''.<ref name="stein">{{cite book|author=Burton Stein|title=Peasant state and society in medieval South India |url=https://archive.org/details/peasantstatesoci0000stei|url-access=registration|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1980|page=[https://archive.org/details/peasantstatesoci0000stei/page/70 70]}}</ref> 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 ''[[Brahmin]]s''; and states that in south India the kshatriya model did not emerge.<ref name="stein" /> 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 dynasty|Pallava]], [[Chola dynasty|Chola]] and [[Vijayanagara Empire|Vijayanagar]] line of warriors which claimed ''Chakravartin'' status, only few locality warrior families achieved the prestigious kin-linked organization of northern warrior groups.<ref name="stein" />

==Jainism==
{{Main|Salakapurusa}}
[[File:Bharatha.jpg|thumb|Statue of [[Bharata Chakravartin]] at [[Shravanabelagola]]]]
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.<ref name="Doniger1999"/> The [[Jain cosmology]] or legendary history is basically a compilation of the deeds of these illustrious men. As per Jain cosmology, Chakravartins are ''Universal Monarchs'' or ''World Conquerors''. Golden in complexion, they all belonged to the ''[[Kasyapa]]'' [[gotra]]. The mother of a Chakravartin sees some dreams at the time of conception. A chakravartin is considered an ideal human being endowed with thirty-two major signs of excellence and many minor signs of excellence.

The list of 12 chakravartin of ''Avasarpini'' as per [[Jainism]] is as follows<ref>{{citation |first=Jagmanderlal |last=Jaini |title=Outlines of Jainism |editor=F.W. Thomas}} appendix III.</ref>

#[[Bharata chakravartin|Bharata]], son of [[Tirthankara]] [[Rishabhanatha]]
#[[King Sagara|Sagara]], ancestor of [[Bhagiratha]] as in the [[Puranas]]
# Maghava<ref name="Glasenapp1999"/>{{rp|306}}
#[[Sanat Kumara Chakravarti|Sanatkumara]]<ref name="Glasenapp1999"/>{{rp|306}}
#
#[[Tirthankara]] [[Shantinatha]]
#[[Tirthankara]] [[Kunthunatha]]<ref name="Glasenapp1999"/>{{rp|308}}
#[[Tirthankara]] [[Aranatha]]<ref name="Glasenapp1999"/>{{rp|308}}
# Subhauma<ref name="Glasenapp1999"/>{{rp|308}}
#[[Bimbisara|Padmanabha]]
#[[Harishena]]
# Jayasena
# Brahmadatt

In Jainism, a Chakravartin Samrat was characterised by his possession of ''Saptaratna'', or "Seven Jewels":{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}
#[[Sudarshana Chakra|Ratna-Chakra]], a miraculous diamond serrated discus that never misses its target
#Empress
#Divine Jewellery
#Immense Wealth
#Huge Army of [[Ratha|War-Chariots]]
#Huge Army of Cavalry
#Huge Army of Elephants

Some lists cite [[navaratna]] or "nine jewels" instead, adding "[[Prime Minister]]" and "[[Son]]".{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}

==Buddhism==
It was believed that once a chakravarti emerged the "Future Buddha" [[Maitreya]] would appear on earth.<ref name="Rosenfield1967"/>{{rp|175}}

In early Buddhist art there are more than 30 depictions, all from the [[Deccan]]. In most the Chakravarti King uses the "Royal Gesture" in which the king "clenches his left hand at his chest and reaches up with his right hand". He is surrounded by his seven attributes: the [[Chakraratna]] wheel, his state elephant, charger horse, "the octagonal gem which is so luminous it can light the path of his army by night", his queen, defense minister and finance minister.<ref name="Rosenfield1967"/>{{rp|175–176}}

The [[Early Buddhist schools|early Buddhist]] ''[[Mahāvastu]]'' (1.259f) and the ''[[Divyavadana|Divyāvadāna]]'', as well as the [[Theravada|Theravadin]] [[Milinda Panha|Milindapañha]], describe the marks of the chakravarti as ruler: {{IAST|[[Ushnisha|''uṣṇīṣa'']]}}, [[chhatra]] "parasol", "horn jewel" or [[vajra]], [[whisk]] and [[Upanah|sandals]]. These were the marks of the [[kshatriya]]. Plastic art of early [[Mahayana]] Buddhism illustrates [[bodhisattva]]s in a form called {{IAST|''uṣṇīṣin''}} "wearing a turban/hair binding", wielding the mudras for "nonviolent cakravarti rule".<ref name="Falk2012">{{cite book |chapter=Small-Scale Buddhism |author=Harry Falk |editor1=François Voegeli |editor2=Vincent Eltschinger |editor3=Maria Piera Candotti |editor4=Bogdan Diaconescu |editor5=Malhar Kulkarni |title=Devadattīyam: Johannes Bronkhorst Felicitation Volume |publisher=Peter Lang |location=Bern |year=2012 |isbn=9783034306829 |page=495}}</ref>
[[File:Mandala of the Six Chakravartins.JPG|thumb|Tibetan [[mandala]] of the six chakravartis]]
==See also==
{{Commons category|Chakravartins}}
{{col div|colwidth=30em}}

===Similar Indic concepts===
*[[Chakraborty]]
*[[Chhatrapati]]
*[[Devaraja]]
*[[Kalachakra]]
*[[Maharaja]]
*[[Rajamandala]]
*[[Samraat]]

===Generic similar concepts===
*[[Philosopher king]]
*[[Solar deity#Solar vessels and Sun chariots|Solar chariot]]
*[[Universal monarchy]]
*[[King of the Universe]]

===Spread and evolution of Chakravarti concept beyond India===
*[[Greater India]]
*[[History of Indian influence on Southeast Asia|kingdoms of Southeast Asia]]
*[[Indianisation]]

{{colend}}

==References==
===Citations===
<references>
<ref name="Begley1973">{{cite book |author=Wayne Edison Begley |title=Viṣṇu's flaming wheel: the iconography of the Sudarśana-cakra |series=Monographs on archaeology and fine arts |publisher=New York University Press |location=New York |year=1973 |volume=27}}</ref>

<ref name="Doniger1999">{{cite encyclopedia |editor=[[Wendy Doniger]] |title=Encyclopedia of World Religions |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZP_f9icf2roC |year=1999 |publisher=[[Merriam-Webster]] |isbn=0-87779-044-2 |page=550}}</ref>

<ref name="Glasenapp1999">{{cite book |author=Helmuth von Glasenapp |title=Jainism: An Indian Religion of Salvation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WzEzXDk0v6sC |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |location=[[Delhi]] |year=1999 |isbn=81-208-1376-6}}</ref>

<ref name="Rosenfield1967">{{cite journal |author=John M. Rosenfield |title=The Dynastic Arts of the Kushans |journal=California Studies in the History of Art |publisher=University of California Press |year=1967 |issn=0068-5909 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=udnBkQhzHH4C&pg=PA186}}</ref>
</references>

===Sources===

*Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend ({{ISBN|0-500-51088-1}}) by Anna Dallapiccola
*[http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.26.0.than.html Cakkavatti Sutta The Wheel-turning Emperor (excerpt)] Translated from the Pali by [[Thanissaro Bhikkhu]]
*[http://www.accesstoinsight.org/glossary.html A Glossary of Pali and Buddhist Terms]

{{Buddhism topics}}
{{Jainism topics}}
{{Hinduism footer small}}

[[Category:Titles and occupations in Hinduism]]
[[Category:Buddhist mythology]]
[[Category:Buddhist philosophical concepts]]
[[Category:Buddhist titles]]
[[Category:Jain religious occupations]]
[[Category:Salakapurusa]]
[[Category:Imperial titles]]
[[Category:Titles in India]]
[[Category:Superlatives in religion]]
[[Category:Indian emperors]]
[[Category:Hinduism and government]]
[[Category:Buddhism and government]]
[[Category:Jainism and government]]

Chakravartin - Revision history

Bharatwiki Socrates at 16:45, 28 November 2023