Chakravartin Salakapurusa



14 ratna (jewels) of chankravartin. miniature 17th century, saṁgrahaṇīratna Śrīcandra, in prakrit gujarati commentary. jain Śvetāmbara cosmological text commentary , illustrations.


a chakravartin (universal monarch) emperor of world, lord of material realm. though possesses worldly power, finds ambitions dwarfed enormity of cosmos. jain purunas give list of 12 chakravartins flourished in descending time cycle. golden in complexion, belonged kasyapa gotra. 1 of greatest chakravartis mentioned in jain scriptures bharata in memory india came known bharata-varsha . after conquering whole world, king bharata, brimming pride, sought inscribe great feat on slopes of mount meru. great dismay, found names of many other kings carved on meru. him, had conquered world. not first man so. not last. there many before him, there many after him. bharata, humbled experience, returned kingdom duty, aware actions not unique , existence not special. names of twelve chakravartins per jain texts are:



lord shantinatha, sixteenth jain tirthankara chakravarti



in jainism, chakravarti characterised possession of saptaratna, or 7 jewels :



some texts cite navaratna or 9 jewels instead, adding prime minister , son . texts further expands 14 ratna, jewels.








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