Triratna


The Triratna is a Buddhist symbol, thought to visually represent the Three Jewels of Buddhism.

Symbol

The Triratna symbol is composed of:
On representations of the footprint of the Buddha, the Triratna is usually also surmounted by the Dharma wheel.
The Triratna can be found on frieze sculptures at Sanchi as the symbol crowning a flag standard, as a symbol of the Buddha installed on the Buddha's throne, as the crowning decorative symbol on the later gates at the stupa in Sanchi, or, very often on the Buddha footprint.
The triratna can be further reinforced by being surmounted with three dharma wheels.
The triratna symbol is also called nandipada, or "bull's hoof", by Hindus.

Coins

A number of examples of the triratna symbol appear on historical coins of Buddhist kingdoms in the Indian subcontinent. For example, the triratna appears on the first century BCE coins of the Kuninda Kingdom in the northern Punjab. It also surmounts the depictions of stupas, on some the coins of Abdagases I of the Indo-Kingdom of the first century CE and on the coins of the Kushan Empire, such as those coined by Vima Kadphises, also of the first century.

Examples of Triratna