What Is The National Emblem Of India?

What Is A National Emblem?

A national emblem is a seal or an emblem (a pictorial image representing a concept such as a moral truth or a king or saint) that is reserved for use by a specific nation as a national symbol. The emblem is a representation of values or concepts which the nation stands for.

What Is The National Emblem Of India?

India’s national emblem is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka that was discovered in Sarnath and is currently preserved in the Sarnath Museum close to Varanasi, UP. 

When Was The National Emblem Adopted?

The representation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka was first adopted in December 1947 as the emblem of the Dominion of India. Later, it was re-adopted in the current form on January 26, 1950, when India became a republic.

Who Selected India’s National Emblem?

In 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru assigned the charge of finding a suitable emblem for India to Badruddin Tyabji who was a civil servant and freedom fighter as well as the Constituent Assembly’s member. Many designs were submitted by people from all across the country, but Tyabji found none to be suitable enough to earn the prestigious title of the national emblem. In the end, Tyabji and his wife suggested the use of the Ashoka Capital and the Ashoka Chakra to create the national emblem. Soon, they drew it and got the image printed. The design was well-accepted by all and has been used as the country’s national emblem since then.

Description Of The National Emblem Of India

The actual Sarnath capital from where the emblem’s design has been derived features four Asiatic lions standing back to back on an abacus. The frieze of the abacus of the capital features sculptures of a lion, a horse, a bull, and an elephant in the four directions of north, west, south, and east, respectively. The sculptures of the animals are separated by intervening wheels (Dharma chakra or wheel of law). The abacus rests on an inverted lotus sculpture.

In the national emblem of India which is represented in 2D, only three of the lions are visible and the other is assumed to exist. One Dharma Chakra is featured at the center of the abacus with a galloping horse and a bull on the left and right, respectively. The outlines of two more Dharma Chakras can be seen on the extreme left and right of the emblem. The lotus design has been omitted from the emblem. The motto Satyameva Jayate meaning Truth Alone Triumphs is an integral part of this emblem and has been derived from an ancient Hindu scripture called the Mundaka Upanishad. It is written in the Devanagari script and is mentioned below the representation of the Lion Capital.

What Do The National Emblem Symbolize?

Since the Lion Capital was built by Emperor Ashoka, an ardent follower of Buddhism, it is associated with great Buddhist values. The four lions in the capital could represent the spread of Dharma in all four directions. It could also represent 'the Four Noble Truths' of Buddhism. In the national emblem, the three lions in the national emblem epitomize courage, confidence, and strength. The Dharma Chakra in the emblem has 24 spokes which represent the 24 hours of a day and the fact that life is never stagnant and always moving. The four animals in the abacus also appear to be rolling the wheels. According to some beliefs, these animals represent Buddha himself and thus the fact that Buddha is carrying forward the tenets of Dharma. The four animals could also represent the various phases in the life of Lord Buddha.

What Is The Use Of The National Emblem?

The national emblem appears on all Indian currency. It is also a part of the Government of India’s official letterhead. The Indian passports feature the emblem on the cover. The wheel or the Ashoka chakra is also present in the center of India’s national flag. There are also certain restrictions regarding the use of the emblem. For example, it cannot be used for official correspondences by any private organization in the country.