National Emblem
The State emblem is an adaptation from
the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. In the original, there are four
lions, standing back to back, mounted on an abacus with a frieze
carrying sculptures in high relief of an elephant, a galloping horse,
a bull and a lion separated by intervening wheels over a bell-shaped
lotus. Carved out of a single block of polished sandstone, the capital
is crowned by the Wheel of the Law (Dharma Chakra).
In the State emblem, adopted by the
Government of India on 26 January 1950,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 right and a horse on left and the
outlines of other wheels on extreme right and left. The bell-shaped
lotus has been omitted. The words Satyameva Jayate from Mundaka
Upanishad, meaning ‘Truth Alone Triumphs’, are inscribed below the
abacus in Devanagari script.
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