The concept of the benign universal monarch or emperor who rules in accordance with the law of the sacred teachings of Buddhism is one that has permeated Buddhist literature since the time of Aśoka. Their appearance in the world is considered a unique and rare event, just as the appearance of a buddha is considered to be unique and rare.

See also “powerful monarch.”

Literally “wheel-wielder,” denotes a powerful being who has control over vast regions of the universe.

The term “universal monarch” denotes a just and pious king who rules over the universe according to the laws of Dharma. Such a monarch is called a cakravartin because he wields a disk (cakra) that rolls (vartana) over continents, worlds, and world systems, bringing them under his power. A universal monarch is often considered the worldly, political correlate of a buddha.

An ideal monarch or emperor who rules in accordance with the Dharma over the entire universe or large parts of it (whatever the spatial extent of the known universe at a given time is conceived to be). A world system can have only one universal monarch at one given time, just as it can have only one buddha. Like a buddha, a universal monarch possesses the thirty-two major marks of a great being (Skt. mahā­puruṣa­lakṣaṇa), and in addition he possesses seven precious objects: his magical wheel or disc, an elephant, a horse, a wish-fulfilling gem, a queen, a treasurer, and a counselor. He rules on the basis of ten royal qualities (Skt. rājadharma): generosity, ethical conduct, nonattachment, honesty, gentleness, austerity, non-anger, nonviolence, patience, and tolerance.

A ruler of one of the continents, possessing the mark of a wheel on the soles of his feet as a sign of his authority (Rigzin 38). Alternatively defined as someone who has the power to overcome, conquer, and rule all the inhabitants of one, two, three, or all four continents of a four-continent world system. In the Buddhist teachings this is considered an example of the most powerful rebirth possible within saṃsāra (rigpawiki, 2012).

A term for an idealized, utopic vision of kingship in South Asian cultures. A cakravartin reigns over vast regions of the universe in accordance with principles of righteous law (dharma). Such a king is called a cakravartin because he possesses a wheel or discus (cakra) that rolls across different realms and brings them all under his power.

A cakravartin is a king who rules over at least one continent and gains his territory by the rolling of his magic wheel over the land. Therefore he is called a king with the revolving wheel. This is as the result of the merit he has accumulated in previous lifetimes. An illustrative passage about the cakravartin and his wheel can be found in Toh 95, The Play in Full 3.3–3.6 (here translated as “universal monarch”).

Apart from the standard meaning of a universal emperor or wheel-turning monarch, this term, often along with “tathāgata,” is used as an epithet describing a class of mantra deities also referred to as “uṣṇīṣa kings.”

An epithet for any great king, but especially those of the higher classes of beings, such as vidyādharas. When referring to a specific class of Buddhist deities, the term is left in its Sanskrit form; elsewhere the term has been translated as “wheel-turning monarch” or “emperor.”

A just and pious king who rules over the universe according to the laws of Dharma. Such a monarch is called a cakravartin because he wields a disk (Skt. cakra) that rolls (Skt. vartana) over continents, worlds, and world systems, bringing them under his power.

See “cakravartin.”

An ancient, pan-Indian concept of the ideal human sovereign who rules over the world in a just manner following the laws of Dharma. Like a buddha, the cakravartin possesses the thirty-two marks of a great person, and his appearance in the world is a rare and special event.

See “cakravartin.”

See “cakravartin.”

See “cakravartin.”