The State Emblem adopted in 1950

Learning outcome

You can distinguish the original Lion Capital from India’s adopted State Emblem, recall its adoption date, and separate the emblem’s visual source from the motto’s source.

Concepts and reasons

The State Emblem is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath. The original has four lions standing back to back on a circular abacus, the base immediately below the lions. The abacus rests on a bell-shaped lotus.

The Government of India adopted the State Emblem on 26 January 1950. Its profile shows three lions; the fourth is hidden from view. The bell-shaped lotus of the original was omitted.

In the adopted emblem, the abacus has a central Dharma Chakra, with a bull on the viewer’s right and a horse on the viewer’s left.

The motto below the abacus is Satyameva Jayate, written in Devanagari. It means Truth Alone Triumphs. The motto’s source is the Mundaka Upanishad; Sarnath supplies the visual model. Devanagari names the script.

Worked examples

1. “The original capital has four lions, but three are visible in the State Emblem.” Both parts are correct. Count all lions in the original when the question asks about the sculpture; count visible lions when it asks about the adopted view.
2. “The bell-shaped lotus must appear below the lions because it is part of the original.” This does not follow. The emblem is an adaptation, and the lotus base was omitted.
3. “When was India’s State Emblem adopted?” Answer 26 January 1950. The question is about adoption of the emblem, not the date when the ancient sculpture was made.

Common traps

Do not confuse “four in the original” with “three visible”. Do not treat the adopted emblem as a photograph containing every part of the original sculpture. Keep the date, the visual source, the motto and its meaning as separate facts.

Practice questions

1. On which date was India’s State Emblem adopted?
2. What does Satyameva Jayate mean?
3. Give both counts: lions in the original capital; lions visible in the adopted emblem.
4. Which supplies the motto: the Sarnath Lion Capital or the Mundaka Upanishad?

Answers and explanations

1. 26 January 1950.
2. Truth Alone Triumphs.
3. Four in the original; three visible in the adopted emblem. Visibility is not the total number in the original sculpture.
4. Mundaka Upanishad; Sarnath is the visual source.

Reference

Embassy of India, Juba: India News, April 2017, State Emblem section

Analogy

Think of a model and a drawing made from it. A drawing can show only some parts and can deliberately leave a feature out. Likewise, the original capital has four lions, while three are visible in the emblem; the bell-shaped lotus is omitted. These are two different distinctions: hidden from view is not the same as omitted from the design.

Quick reference

• Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath.
• Adopted 26 January 1950. The profile shows three lions.
• Motto: Satyameva Jayate, Truth Alone Triumphs.
• The bell-shaped lotus of the original was omitted.