Seven precious emblems of royalty
The seven emblems of royalty (Skt. saptaratna; Tib. gyal si na dün; Wyl. rgyal srid sna bdun) are the seven possessions of a universal monarch (Skt. cakravartin). They are:
- the precious golden wheel (Skt. cakraratna; Wyl. 'khor lo rin po che),
- the precious wish-fulfilling jewel (Skt. maṇiratna; Wyl. nor bu rin po che),
- the precious queen (Skt. strīratna; Wyl. btsun mo rin po che),
- the precious minister (Skt. puruṣaratna or pariṇāyakaratna; Wyl. blon po rin po che),
- the precious elephant (Skt. hastiratna; Wyl. glang po rin po che),
- the precious horse (Skt. aśvaratna; Wyl. rta mchog rin po che), and
- the precious general (Skt. khaḍgaratna or senāpatiratna; Wyl. dmag dpon rin po che).
These symbolize the seven noble riches.
In the Thirty-seven Point Mandala Offering, the vase of great treasure is added as an eighth emblem.
Alternative Terms/Translations
- the seven precious gems
- the seven riches of the universal monarch (Chögyam Trungpa)
- the seven jewels of royal power (Dagyab Rinpoche)
Further Reading
- Chögyam Trungpa, Shambhala (Boston & London: Shambhala, 2003 edition), pages 167-169.
- Dagyab Rinpoche, Buddhist Symbols in Tibetan Culture (Boston: Wisdom Publications, 1995), 3. The Seven Jewels of Royal Power.
- Jamgön Kongtrul, Myriad Worlds (Ithaca: Snow Lion, 1995), pages 136-137.
- Robert Beer, The Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols (Boston: Shambhala, 2003), pages 37-42