A ruling party minister, however, dismissed the criticism, saying the statue was a “perfect replica” of the original “except for its size”.
The new national emblem, adapted from the lion capital at Sarnath, built during the reign of Emperor Ashoka in 250 BC, is a 9,500 kg (20,943 lb) bronze and 6.5 m high structure located on top of the central foyer. of the new parliament building
According to officials, the clay is said to have gone through eight different stages of preparation, from modeling/computer graphics to bronze casting and polishing.
While the controversy still rages on, here’s what your child should know about the history and significance of the national emblem.
History and Significance
The national emblem is a symbol of national identity and is a variation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath, an ancient statue dating back to 280 BC during the reign of the Maurya Empire.
It became the emblem of the Dominion of India in December 1947 and later became the emblem of the Republic of India on 26 January 1950. In addition, the symbol was adopted from the Mundaka Upanishad with the motto ‘Satyameva Jayate’, which means ‘Truth always wins’.
The national emblem is a three-dimensional structure with four Asiatic lions facing each other in the four main directions and representing courage, pride, strength and confidence. The cylindrical base on which the lions are situated has four Ashoka Chakras, corresponding to the image of each lion. Additionally, it has carvings of animals like bulls, horses and elephants.
According to some Buddhist interpretations, all of these animals are said to be symbols of the Buddha himself and may carry the principles of the dharma.
Another explanation could be that the four animals represent different stages of the life of Lord Buddha.
The Ashoka Chakra represents the Buddhist wheel of Dharma.
The original Lion Capital sits on an inverted lotus abacus, which is not included in the national emblem.
It is located at the site of the Buddha’s first sermon, where he shared the Four Noble Truths with his disciples.
Currently, the national emblem is the emblem of the Government of India and is the official seal of the President of India, the Central and State Governments.
The State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005, prohibits the improper use of the State Emblem of India for commercial and commercial purposes.