The coat of arms (emblem) of India is an image of the “lion capital” crowning the Ashoka column in Sarnath .
In the middle of the III century BC Emperor Ashoka set up a pillar with a capital to mark the place where Buddha Gautama first taught dharma and where a large Buddhist sangha was founded. Four lions, standing close to each other, are mounted on an abacus with a border.
At the insistence of Jawaharlal Nehru , who was sympathetic to Buddhism , the image of this particular sculpture was declared the national emblem of India on January 26, 1950 (the day India became a republic).
The coat of arms depicts four Indian lions on a round abacus. The fourth lion is located behind and is therefore hidden from view. The emblem symbolizes a nation that is "courageous in courage, strong in body, prudent in advice and intimidating opponents." The abacus is decorated with four animals - symbols of four directions: the Lion - the north, the Elephant - the east, the Horse - the south and the Bull - the west (in the image only the Horse and the Bull are visible). Abaka relies on a lotus in full bloom, symbolizing the source of life.
Below the abacus is the motto recorded on Devanagari : सत्यमेव जयते (Satyameva Jayate, “Only Truth Conquers”). This is a quote from the Mundaka Upanishad .