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Chakravarti (Sanskrit cakravartin), literally meaning "turner of the wheel" is a term used for a successful conqueror or imperial ruler of all or most of the subcontinent of India, both in legend and in history. The name has also come to be used as a common surname. The word "Chakravarti" used for an Indian emperor is related to Dharmacakra (wheel of religion or wheel of law), appearing in the religions of Buddhism and Hinduism and regarded as a symbol of imperial rule. A depiction of this wheel is today seen on the flag of India.

Bharat

Bharat was the son of the Puru Dynasty. India (Bharat) is named after him. He was able to conquer the whole subcontinent. There are some disputes over whether Bharat conquered India or certain parts of India. Some believe that he even conquered regions outside of the Subcontinent such as Afghanistan (then referred to as Gandhara) and Tibet (then referred to as Bhuta.)

Asoka

Asoka was the son of the Magadhan Empire of Bindusara and with his peaceful ideas, conquered the whole od India. He himself was a devout Buddhist converted by the Brahmin Radhasvami. He was respectful of Hinduism even practicing Hindu beliefs as he was born a Hindu into a Hindu family. He crowned himself as Devanampiya Piyadassi, Sanskrit for "He who is the beloved of the Gods who, in turn is his loving servant."

Pushyamitra Sunga

Pushyamitra Sunga was the Hindu soldier in the Mauryan army. Revolting against the oppression of Hindus by the later Buddhist Mauryan rulers, Pushyamitra Sunga overthrew the Mauryan Dynasty and established the Sunga Dynasty.

Akbar

Akbar of the Mughal Dynasty was admired by people of all religions. He himself born a Muslim edtablished a new religion that emcompassed beliefs of all religions of India, which included Islam, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism and Christianity. Several officialls in the Mughal empire during his time were Hindus. Through his benovelence, the Indians enjoyed his rule.

Chhatrapati Shivaji

Shivaji Bhonsle was the son of a Maratha solder in the Mughal army. During this time, Akbar Rajah's time had passed and the Hindus were being harassed by Islamist extremists of the Mughal empire. Temples were also being destroyed, the Jaziya was enacted, and if not payable, Hindus were executed. Several Hindus did not want to remain loyal to the empire and established rebellions. Shivaji created a confederacy of Marathas originally but later his confederacy included Hindus of all languagess. His aim was to establish a Hindavi Swarajya (Indian Democracy) and so he was called Janata Rajah (People's King.)

Mythological Chakravartis

There have been several stories in sacred scriptures of who ruled India.

Adinath

Again, to the Jain community he is the 1st Tirthankar and is said to be the father of King Bharat.

Shantinath

To the Jain community he is worshipped as a the 16th Tirthankar and to have ruled the whole of India.

Shibi

He is famous in Hindu and Buddhist mythology. He sacrificed his flesh. There have been several dynasties which have claimed heritage from Emperor Shibi's line. The Cholas were one of the dynasties and they referred to him as Sembiyan.

Neduncheralathan

Imayavaramban Neduncheralathan, a Sangam age king said in inscriptions to have conquered up to the Himalayas.

• Indian family names