Lion Capital of Asoka

The Lion Capital of Ashoka is a sculpture of four lions standing back to back. It was originally atop the Ashoka pillar at Sarnath, now in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The pillar, sometimes called the Ashoka Column is still in its original location, but the Lion Capital is now in the Sarnath Museum. The Lion Capital is the national emblem of India.

Related Topics:
Ashoka - Ashoka pillar - Sarnath - Uttar Pradesh - India - Sarnath Museum - National emblem

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Emblem of India

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The capital contains 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 spoked chariot-wheels over a bell-shaped lotus. Carved out of a single block of polished sandstone, the capital was believed to be crowned by a 'Wheel of the Law' (Dharma Chakra), which has now been lost.

Related Topics:
Capital - Lion - Abacus - Frieze - Relief - Elephant - Horse - Bull - Lotus - Sandstone - Dharma Chakra

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In the emblem adopted by the Government of India on January 26, 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 the right and a horse on the left and the outlines of other wheels on the extreme right and left. The bell-shaped lotus has been omitted. The words Satyameva Jayate from the Mundaka Upanishad, meaning 'Truth Alone Triumphs', are inscribed below the abacus in Devanagari script. These words are the official motto of the Indian Republic.

Related Topics:
Government of India - January 26 - 1950 - Satyameva Jayate - Mundaka Upanishad - Devanagari

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