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:

1. the precious golden wheel (Skt. cakraratna; Wyl. 'khor lo rin po che),
2. the precious wish-fulfilling jewel (Skt. maṇiratna; Wyl. nor bu rin po che),
3. the precious queen (Skt. strīratna; Wyl. btsun mo rin po che),
4. the precious minister (Skt. puruṣaratna or pariṇāyakaratna; Wyl. blon po rin po che),
5. the precious elephant (Skt. hastiratna; Wyl. glang po rin po che),
6. the precious horse (Skt. aśvaratna; Wyl. rta mchog rin po che), and
7. 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