Emblem of Tamil Nadu
| Emblem of Tamil Nadu | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Armiger | Government of Tamil Nadu |
| Adopted | 1949 |
| Shield | Meenakshi Temple[a] |
| Motto | Vāymaiyē vellum ("Truth Alone Triumphs", from Mundaka Upanishad) |
The Emblem of Tamil Nadu is the official state emblem of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and is used as the official state symbol of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Design
The state emblem was designed in 1949 by artist R. Krishna Rao who was a native of Madurai.[1] Krishna Rao was honoured with awards and titles for his contribution to the state.[1] A student of the Government College of Fine Arts and Crafts in Chennai, who went on to become the principal of the college later, Rao was approached to design the emblem in 1948 when he was a professor of applied arts in the college.[2]
It consists of the Lion Capital of Ashoka without the bell lotus foundation and flanked on either side by an Indian flag. Behind the capital, is the image of a Gopuram or Hindu temple. Around the rim of the seal runs an inscription in Tamil script, one at the top தமிழ் நாடு அரசு ("Tamil Nadu Arasu" which translates to "Government of Tamil Nadu") and the other at the bottom வாய்மையே வெல்லும் ("Vaymaiye Vellum" which translates to "Truth Alone Triumphs" also commonly known as "Satyameva Jayate" in Sanskrit). It is the only state emblem that has the Indian Flag and Hindu temple tower on its seal.[2]
The image of the Gopuram is commonly thought to be Srivilliputhur Andal Temple, however, the artist R. Krishna Rao has stated that it is based on the Madurai Meenakshi Temple's West Tower.[1][3]
Historical emblems
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Emblem of Madras Presidency of British India
Government banner
The Government of Tamil Nadu can be represented by an image of the emblem of the state placed onto a white background.[4][5] A flag was proposed in 1970 but was not formally adopted.
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![Banner of Tamil Nadu [6]](./_assets_/Flag_of_Tamil_Nadu.svg.png)
Banner of Tamil Nadu [6] -
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Former flag proposal
See also
- List of Tamil Nadu state symbols
- Flag of Tamil Nadu
- Tamil Thai Valthu
- National Emblem of India
- List of Indian state emblems
Notes
- ^ Author's claim per § Design; commonly mistaken to be Srivilliputhur Andal Temple
References
- ^ a b c Swaroop, Vishnu (7 November 2016). "Which Tamil Nadu temple is the state emblem?". Madurai. TOI. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
- ^ a b "Symbols of Tamil Nadu". TNPSC. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
- ^ B.A, Pon Vasanth (14 April 2022). "A tower that is emblematic of the State". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
- ^ States of India since 1947
- ^ "Vexilla Mundi".
- ^ "Tamil Nadu State of India Flag Textile Cloth Fabric Waving on the Top Sunrise Mist Fog Stock Illustration - Illustration of celebration, patriotic: 127909992".
