The Venerable National Emblem

         The National Emblem of India has been taken from Sarnath, near Banaras of Uttar Pradesh, Lion capital erected by Maurya emperor Ashoka in the third century BC. This was to mark the spot where the Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma and where the Buddhist Sangha was founded.The national emblem is thus symbolic of contemporary India's endorsement of its ancient commitment to world peace and goodwill.

    It has four lions, resting on a circular abacus. The fourth lion is on the rear and hence hidden from view. The emblem symbolizes power, courage, pride, and confidence. The abacus is girded by four smaller animals - 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, separated by intervening wheels, over a lotus in full bloom, exemplifying the fountainhead of life and creative inspiration.

      The four animals in the Lion capital are believed to symbolize different phases in Lord Buddha`s life. The elephant is a representation of queen Maya`s (Buddha`s mother) conception of Buddha when she saw a white elephant entering her womb in a dream. The bull represents desire during the life of the Buddha as a prince. The horse symbolizes Buddha`s departure from palatial life. The Lion represents the attainment of Nirvana by Lord Buddha.  Also four lion symbolize Ashoka`s rule over the four directions, the wheel as symbols of his enlightened rule and the four animals as symbols of four adjoining territories of India.

     In mythology of India, the east is for Indra and Indra is associated with elephant, and this direction is symbol of freshness. South is the direction of Yama, Who keeps the account of everyone`s Karma, Buddha went south to perform his Karma depicted as horse, the sprint animal. South is considered an instable direction; everything keeps changing in south viz. river etc. West is for Varuna and Laxmi, which are depicted for desire, bull is the symbol of hard work to gain prosperity and fulfill the desire. North is the direction of lord Shiva, lion is the vehicle of goddess Durga, who stays with lord Shiva in the form of goddess Parvati. Everything is stable in north viz. snow, Banyan tree where Shiva meditates, Dhruv star etc. Hence North is considered the direction of stability, the freedom from continuous birth and death, the Nirvana.

       At the Centre of the Abacus, there is a Chakra (wheel) which symbolizes the Dharma Chakra (Eternal wheel of law). The chakra contains 24 spokes symbolize the round the clock progress with Dharma. Lord Vishnu, the sustainer, holds Sudarshan Chakra, the Dharma wheel, in his index figure. This is the indication of maintaining the law and order around the clock. If anyone tries to contravene the law and order, the Chakra is hurled out from this finger to sever the head to the law breaker.     The word Satyameva Jayate (truth alone triumphs) have been inscribed in Devanagari script, that has been taken from Mundaka Upanishad chapter 3, section 1, verse 6.

Satyameva Jayate nanrtam satyena pantha vitato devayano yena kramanty rsayo
harstakama yatra tat satyasyaparamarh nidhanam, (M.U.3:1:6)

“The true prevails, not the untrue; by the true the path is laid out, the way of the gods (devayanah), on which the old sages, satisfied in their desires, proceed to where there is that highest place of the True One.”

 

      The national emblem of India was adapted by the Government of India on 26th January1950, the day India became a republic. The National emblem of India is the official seal of the President of India and Central and State Governments. The National emblem is used only for official purposes and commands highest respect and loyalty. It is also a symbol of independent India's identity and sovereignty

     The act has been enforced to save the sanctity and veneration of the national emblem.

The Emblems And Names (Prevention Of Improper Use) Act, 1950

And the Prevention of Insults of National Honor Act, 1971.

    

    The Act and law came later in the honor of national emblem. The source of the national emblem has always been remained venerable. The person who does not have the self-esteem, only that person can think of to defile or desecrate the national emblem. Its eternity and sanctity should never be the matter of vile politics.