State Emblem of India

Context:

• • Nearly 50 people were detained in Srinagar after the State Emblem of India plaque was vandalised and removed from inside the Hazratbal shrine.

What it is:

• • The State Emblem of India is an official adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath.
  • It was formally adopted on 26 January 1950, coinciding with India’s transition into a Republic.
  • The emblem signifies India’s sovereignty, authority, and commitment to truth and justice.

Historical Origin:

• • The Lion Capital was originally commissioned by Emperor Ashoka (3rd century BCE) at Sarnath, the site where Buddha delivered his first sermon.
  • It was part of Ashoka’s pillar edicts, spreading the universal message of Dhamma (righteousness).
  • The sculpture was unearthed in 1905 and is preserved in the Sarnath Museum, Uttar Pradesh.

Key Features of the Emblem:

• • Four Asiatic Lions: Seated back-to-back, representing power, courage, pride, and confidence.
  • Abacus Frieze: Depicts an elephant, horse, bull, and lion, each separated by a Dharma Chakra (Wheel of Law).
  • Lotus Base: Present in the original but omitted in the adopted emblem.
  • Official Emblem (Republic of India):
  • Shows three visible lions.
  • At the base: a bull on the right and a galloping horse on the left.
  • Dharma Chakra at the centre, with wheel outlines on either end.
  • Motto: “Satyameva Jayate” (Truth Alone Triumphs), inscribed in Devanagari script beneath the emblem.