TRIRATNA

TRIRATNA

The Triratna is a Buddhist symbol, thought to visually represent the Three Jewels of Buddhism, the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha. The Triratna symbol is composed of a lotus flower within a circle, a diamond rod or vajra and an ananda-chakra. A trident or trisula, with three branches, representing the threefold jewels of Buddhism. On representations of the footprint of the Buddha, the Triratna is usually also surmounted by the Dhamma wheel. The Triratna can be found on frieze sculptures at Sanchi as the symbol crowning a flag standard (2nd century BCE), as a symbol of the Buddha installed on the Buddha's throne (2nd century BCE), as the crowning decorative symbol on the later gates at the stupa in Sanchi (2nd century CE), or very often on the Buddha footprint (starting from the 1st century CE).