National Emblem of India

1.

The State Emblem of India, as the national emblem of
the Republic of India is called, is an adaptation of the Lion
Capital of Ashoka from 250 BCE at Sarnath, preserved in
the Sarnath Museum near Varanasi. It has 4 lions that
face 4 different directions, namely north, east, south, and
west. A representation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka was
initially adopted as the emblem of the Dominion of India in
December 1947.[1] The current version of the emblem was
officially adopted on 26 January 1950, the day when India
became a republic.[2]
History[edit]
The task of beautifying the original copy of
the Constitution of India was given to Nandalal Bose (then
the Principal of Kala Bhavan Shanti Niketan in Shanti
Niketan) by the Congress.[3][4] Bose set out to complete
this task with the help of his students, one of whom
was Dinanath Bhargava, then 21 years old.[5] Bose was
keen to include the Lion Capital of Ashoka into the
opening pages of the constitution. Wanting the lions to be
depicted realistically, he chose Bhargava who studied the
behavior of the lions at the Kolkata Zoo.[6] On 26 January
1950, it was adopted as the State Emblem of India.[7]

2.

Structure
1.The National Emblem has four lions (one hidden from view) symbolizing power,
courage, pride and confidence. It stands on a circular abacus which is girded by
four smaller animals, which is symbolize as the guardians of the four directions- the
lion of the north, the elephant of the east, the horse of the south, and the bull of the
west.
2.The Bull represents hard work and steadfastness, Elephant represents
strength, Lion represents bravery and the Horse represents loyalty, speed, and
energy.and the animals are separated by dharmachakra.
3.The Dharma Chakra features right below the four lions, has 24 spokes which
represent 24 hours in a day, signifying that time cannot be bounded and its passage is
inevitable.
4.The abacus rests on a lotus in full bloom, which means fountainhead
(creativity/fullness) of life. The motto ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed below the
emblem, which is a quote from Mundaka Upanishad in Devanagari script and
means ‘truth alone triumphs’.
5.There are other versions of the symbol as well. In Buddhism, the animals represent
four phases of Buddha’s life and in Hinduism, it is said to depict the reign of emperor
Ashoka in the four geographical directions and the wheel means his enlightened rule.

3.

The actual Sarnath capital features four Asiatic lions standing back to back,
symbolising power, courage, confidence, and pride, mounted on a circular base. At the
bottom is a horse and a bull, and at its center is a wheel (Dharma chakra).
The abacus is girded with a frieze of sculptures in high relief of The Lion of the North,
The Horse of the West, The Bull of the South and The Elephant of the East, separated
by intervening wheels, over a lotus in full bloom, exemplifying the fountainhead of life
and creative inspiration. Carved from a single block of sandstone, the polished capital
is crowned by the Wheel of the Law (Dharma Chakra).
In the emblem finally adopted, only three lions are visible, the fourth being hidden from
view. The wheel appears in relief in the centre of the abacus, with a bull on the right
and a galloping horse on the left, and outlines of Dharma Chakras on the extreme right
and left. A horse and a bull are represented right below the abacus. The bull represents
hard work and steadfastness, while the horse represents loyalty, speed, and energy.
The bell-shaped lotus beneath the abacus has been omitted.[8]
Forming an integral part of the emblem is the motto inscribed below the abacus
in Devanagari script: Satyameva Jayate (Sanskrit: सत्यमेव जयते; lit. "Truth alone
triumphs").[9] This is a quote from Mundaka Upanishad,[10] the concluding part of the
sacred Hindu Vedas

4.

Why was it made a national symbol?
The national emblem is an adaptation of the Lion Capital, originally found atop the Ashoka Column at Sarnath, established in 250
BC. The capital has four Asiatic lions—symbolising power, courage, pride and confidence—seated on a circular abacus. The abacus
has sculptures of a bull, a horse, a lion and an elephant. In the national emblem, three lions are visible; the abacus shows a bull and
horse separated by a dharma chakra; the outlines of two more dharma chakras are visible on either side of the abacus.
While Buddhist interpretations say the animals represent different phases of the Buddha’s life, non-religious interpretations say they
depict the reign of emperor Ashoka in the four geographical directions, while the wheels depict his enlightened rule.
The capital was adopted as the national emblem on January 26, 1950. It was chosen as a symbol of contemporary India’s
reaffirmation of its ancient commitment to world peace and goodwill.
Current Status
The national emblem is a symbol of the Government of India and is used on official documents; it is the official seal of the President
of India and the Central and state governments. The symbol is recognised internationally as representing the Republic of India, and is
found on all passports and other international documents.
The Lion Capital has received its due attention too. After being removed from the Ashok Column, it has been housed in the Sarnath
Museum since 1910. It is kept at a temperature between 200C and 240C, and humidity of 45 to 55 percent. Placed behind a railing, it
is guarded by personnel from the Uttar Pradesh police force. In 2013, the museum had 3.27 lakh visitors.
Although government officials were forthcoming with information about the national emblem and the Lion Capital, attempts to get
an official quote got tangled in bureaucratic machinery.

5.

History
The history behind the National Emblem’s inspiration
dates back to the 3rd Century BC. The third Mauryan
Emperor, Ashoka was a great conqueror and he
established the first true empire in India. Emperor Ashoka
embraced Buddhism after witnessing the endless
bloodshed his quests wrought over the country.
Thereafter, instead of conquests and wars, he made nonviolence, spiritualism, compassion and peaceful coexistence the cornerstones of his administration. He
erected a number of sculptures and stone carvings
throughout his kingdom to preach the tenets of Buddhism
among his people.
The Lion Capital was erected by Mauryan Emperor
Ashoka during the year 250 BC to mark the spot where
Buddha imparted his knowledge of Dharma to his five
disciples, who in turn spread the great monk’s teachings
all over the world. Many such other pillars were erected by
the Emperor but most of them contain a single animal on
top.

6.

History
1.The Lion Capital is a sculpture which was first erected at the top of Aśoka pillar at Sarnath, which is an important
Buddhist site, as this is believed to be the place where Siddhārtha Gautama (Gautama Buddha) first taught
the Dharma, and Buddhist Sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondanna.
The history behind the National Emblem’s inspiration dates back to the 3rd Century BC. The third Mauryan Emperor,
Ashoka was a great conqueror and he established the first true empire in India. Emperor Ashoka embraced Buddhism
after witnessing the endless bloodshed his quests wrought over the country.
1.Built-in 250 BC, the pillar is also called Aśoka Column and stands strong even today.
2.Thereafter, instead of conquests and wars, he made non-violence, spiritualism, compassion and peaceful coexistence the cornerstones of his administration. He erected a number of sculptures and stone carvings throughout
his kingdom to preach the tenets of Buddhism among his people.
3.After witnessing the bloodshed in the Kalinga war, Ashoka was filled with grief and remorse and chose a non-violent
and peaceful approach to life and adopted Buddhism.
4.To spread the message of love and peace, he built several sculptures, stupas, and religious sites. The Lion Capital is
one of the most famous architecture under his name.

7.

Usage and description[edit]
The emblem forms a part of the official letterhead of the Government of India and appears on all Indian currency as
well. It also functions as the national emblem of India in many places and appears prominently on Indian passports.
The Ashoka Chakra (wheel) on its base features in the centre of the national flag of India.
The usage of the emblem is regulated and restricted under State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act,
2005 under which, no individual or private organisation is permitted to use the emblem for official correspondence.
The actual Sarnath capital features four Asiatic lions standing back to back, symbolising power, courage,
confidence, and pride, mounted on a circular base. At the bottom is a horse and a bull, and at its center is a wheel
(Dharma chakra). The abacus is girded with a frieze of sculptures in high relief of The Lion of the North, The Horse
of the West, The Bull of the South and The Elephant of the East, separated by intervening wheels, over a lotus in full
bloom, exemplifying the fountainhead of life and creative inspiration. Carved from a single block of sandstone, the
polished capital is crowned by the Wheel of the Law (Dharma Chakra).
In the emblem finally adopted, only three lions are visible, the fourth being hidden from view. The wheel appears in
relief in the centre of the abacus, with a bull on the right and a galloping horse on the left, and outlines of Dharma
Chakras on the extreme right and left. A horse and a bull are represented right below the abacus. The bull
represents hard work and steadfastness, while the horse represents loyalty, speed, and energy. The bell-shaped
lotus beneath the abacus has been omitted.[8]
Forming an integral part of the emblem is the motto inscribed below the abacus in Devanagari script: Satyameva
Jayate (Sanskrit: सत्यमेव जयते; lit. "Truth alone triumphs").[9] This is a quote from Mundaka Upanishad,[10] the
concluding part of the sacred Hindu Vedas.

8.

Historic seals and emblems[edit]
Pre-colonial India[edit]
Emblem of the Mughal Empire in historical progression[edit]
Main article: Emblem of the Mughal Empire
British rule in India[edit]
Coat of arms of the East India Company, used during the Company Raj (1757–1858)
Emblem of the Mughal Empire
Coat of arms of the United Kingdom, used for official documents, publications and correspondence from the Parliament of the United Kingdom du
Emblem of the Mughal Empire during the reign of Aurangzeb.
Star of India, an emblem used within India during the British Raj.
Last known emblem of the Mughal emperor during the reign of Bahadur Shah Zafar.

9.

Portuguese rule in India[edit]
French Rule in India[edit]
Coat of arms of Portuguese India (1600–1935)
Emblem of French India (1912–1954)
Lesser coat of arms of Portuguese India (1935–1961)
Azad Hind[edit]
Greater coat of arms of Portuguese India (1935–1951)
Seal of the Azad Hind(1943–1945)
Greater coat of arms of Portuguese India (1951–1961)

10.

Dominion of India[edit]
Coat of arms of the United Kingdom used by the Dominion of India (August–December 1947)
Emblem used by the Dominion of India (December 1947–January 1950)
[1]

11.

12.

The National Emblem of India holds a special place,
both in the history and the present of India, and it was on
January 26, 1950, the historic moment when India
became a republic. and This symbol is the pride of every
Indian.
A symbol of the country’s integrity and sovereignty,

13.

Structure
1.The National Emblem has four lions (one hidden from view) and symbolizes power,
courage, and confidence. It stands on a circular abacus which is girded by four
smaller animals, which is symbolic of guardians of the four directions- the lion of the
north, the elephant of the east, the horse of the south, and the bull of the west.
2.The Bull represents hard work and steadfastness, Elephant represents
strength, Lion represents bravery and the Horse represents loyalty, speed, and
energy.
3.The Dharma Chakra features right below the four lions, has 24 spokes which
represent 24 hours in a day, signifying that time cannot be bounded and its passage is
inevitable. It also provides the teaching of always moving forward in life.
4.The abacus rests on a lotus in full bloom, which means fountainhead
(creativity/fullness) of life. The motto ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed below the
emblem, which is a quote from Mundaka Upanishad in Devanagari script and
means ‘truth alone triumphs’.
5.There are other versions of the symbol as well. In Buddhism, the animals represent
four phases of Buddha’s life and in Hinduism, it is said to depict the reign of emperor
Ashoka in the four geographical directions and the wheel means his enlightened rule.

14.

What does it command?
Currently, the symbol is used by the Government of India
on all official documents that represent the Republic of
India. It is the official seal of the President of India and
the Central and state governments. If you notice, all
Indian currency, passports, and Government official
letterheads carry that symbol as well.
Lion Capital has been moved from the Ashok Column to
the Sarnath Museum and has been preserved there under
the strict supervision of Uttar Pradesh police
force since 1910. There, it is kept at a temperature
between 200C and 240C, and humidity of 45 to 55
percent.

15.

History
1The history behind the National Emblem’s inspiration dates back to the 3rd Century BC.
The third Mauryan Emperor, Ashoka was a great conqueror and he established the first true empire in India.
After witnessing the bloodshed in the Kalinga war, Ashoka was filled with grief and chose a non-violent and peaceful
approach to life and adopted Buddhism.
2Thereafter, instead of conquests and wars, he made non-violence, spiritualism and peaceful co-existence the
cornerstones(foundation) of his administration.
3The Lion Capital was constructed by him during the year 250 BC at sarnath which mark the spot where Buddha
imparted his knowledge of Dharma to his five disciples, who in turn spread the great monk’s teachings all over the
world. Many such other pillars were made by the Emperor but most of them contain a single animal on top.
He erected(establish) a number of sculptures , stupas and stone carvings throughout his kingdom to teach the
principles of Buddhism among his people and To spread the message of love and peace. And from them The Lion
Capital is one of the most famous architecture under his name.

16.

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