| Emblem of Odisha | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Armiger | The Government of Odisha |
| Adopted | 1964 |
| Crest | Lion Capital of Ashoka |
| Shield | Warrior and Horse statue from Konark Sun Temple |
| Motto | Satyameva Jayate ("Truth Alone Triumphs", from Mundaka Upanishad) |
| Other elements | Odisha Shasana ("Government of Odisha") in Odia (ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଶାସନ) and Devanagari (ओड़िशा शासन) |
The Emblem of Odisha is the official seal of the Government of the Indian state of Odisha. [1]
On 3 August 1964, the Council of Ministers adopted the design of the Konark Horse statue as the State Emblem, replacing the earlier use of the Ashoka Pillar as the state emblem. The emblem symbolises discipline, strength and progress. [2]
The State Emblem of Odisha features a circular seal that prominently displays a horseback warrior, inspired by the Warrior and Horse statue at the Konark Sun Temple.
The State Emblem of Odisha features a horseback warrior, inspired by the Sun Warrior statue at the Konark Sun Temple. However, a crucial distinction sets them apart: in the Konark statue, the horse is depicted crushing a Yavana (foreigner) warrior under its hoof, symbolizing the military valor of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. This powerful imagery in Konark commemorates the triumphs of Gajapati Langula Narasingha Deva I against the Delhi Sultanate, highlighting Odisha’s enduring legacy of resistance and conquest against external forces.
In contrast, the State Emblem of Odisha, this element—the Yavana warrior being crushed—has been deliberately omitted. Instead, the emblem retains only the warrior on horseback, emphasizing Odisha’s martial tradition and resilience but without explicitly referencing any historical enemy. The removal of the original war depiction is likely due to political and diplomatic considerations, as modern state symbols tend to present a neutral and inclusive narrative rather than highlighting historical conflicts.
Note:This distinction is not widely known. The omission of the Yavana warrior is only in the emblem, whereas in physical statues, the original depiction remains intact, as seen in the Sun Warrior statue at Konark. Similar representations can be found at Master Canteen Square and in front of the Odisha State Legislative Assembly.
Emblems of former Princely states and Zamindaris.
The Government of Odisha can be represented by a banner displaying the emblem of the state on a white field. [3]
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