Why in News:

• The Prime Minister unveiled the 6.5 metre-tall National Emblem on top of the under-construction new Parliament building.

About Sarnath Lion Capital

• • In the original Sarnath Lion Capital, there are four lions, mounted back to back, on a circular abacus, which itself rests on a bell-shaped lotus.
  • It has four Asiatic lions, depicting power, courage, pride and confidence, seated on a circular base.
  • The frieze of the abacus has sculptures in high relief of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull and a lion separated by intervening Dharma Chakras. The Bull represents hard work and steadfastness, Elephant represents strength, Lion represents bravery and the Horse represents loyalty, speed, and energy.
  • The Lion Capital crowning the Ashok Pillar is carved out of a single block of yellow sandstone.

• The Lion Capital was erected by Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in 3rd century BC to mark the spot where Buddha imparted his knowledge of Dharma to his five disciples.

What was taken as the national emblem

• The State Emblem is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka Column at Sarnath.
• The profile of the Lion Capital showing three lions mounted on the abacus with a Dharma Chakra in the centre, a bull on the right and a galloping horse on the left, and outlines of Dharma Chakras on the extreme right and left was adopted as the State Emblem of India on January 26, 1950.
  • The national emblem is a 2-Dimensional image, hence only 3 lions are visiblein the adapted emblem.
• The bell-shaped lotus was omitted.
• The motto Satyameva Jayate, which means ‘Truth Alone Triumphs’, written in Devanagari script below the profile of the Lion Capital is part of the State Emblem of India. The words are a quote from Mundaka Upanishad, that is embedded in the Atharva Veda.
• After Independence, the task of adapting the emblem from Ashoka’s pillar was given to Nandalal Bose, then principal of Kala Bhavan’s fine arts department at Visva-Bharati in Bengal.

Additional Information

• State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005, prohibits improper use of State Emblem of India for professional and commercial purposes and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

References:

1. https://knowindia.india.gov.in/national-identity-elements/state-emblem.php
2. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pm-modi-unveils-national-emblem-on-new-parliament-building/article65626424.ece