National Emblem of India

The National Emblem is the replica of capital (tor portion) of Ashoka’s pillar at Sarnath (near Varanasi in U.P.). In the original, there are four lions, standing back to back, mounted on abacus with a frieze carrying sculptures in high relief of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull and a lion separated by intervening wheel over a bell-shaped lotus.

The capital is crowned by the Wheel of Law. The state Emblem adopted by the Government of India on January 26, 1950 is different from the original. It shows three lions with open mouths (the fourth which is visible in the Ashoka pillar is invisible in the National Emblem – Considered hidden from view.

There is Dharma Chakra (Wheel of Law) in the center of the base plate, with the figure of a bull on the right side and that of a horse on the left. At the extreme ends on the right and left sides, the view of the other wheels appears.

The words Sathyameva Jayate (meaning “Truth alone triumphs”) from the Mundaka Upanishad are inscribed below the emblem in the Devanagari script.

National Emblem of India