Emblem of Tamil Nadu

Emblem of Tamil Nadu
Armiger	Government of Tamil Nadu
Adopted	1949
Shield	Srivilliputhur Andal Temple
Motto	Vaymaiye vellum (Truth alone triumphs)

The Emblem of Tamil Nadu is the official state emblem of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is used as the seal of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Designed in 1949 by R. Krishna Rao, the emblem consists of the Lion Capital of Ashoka without the bell lotus foundation, flanked on either side by the Indian flag with an image of a gopuram of a Hindu temple in the background. The round emblem is flanked by the words Tamilnadu arasu (Government of Tamil Nadu) and Vaymaiye vellum (truth alone triumphs) in Tamil.

Designer

The state emblem was designed in 1949 by R. Krishna Rao from Madurai. ^[1] Rao, who was a professor of the Government College of Fine Arts in Chennai, was approached to design the emblem in 1948. ^[2]

Design

Seal of Government of Tamil Nadu

The round seal consists of the Lion Capital of Ashoka without the bell lotus foundation, flanked on either side by the Indian flag. Behind the capital is an image of a gopuram of a Hindu temple. Around the rim of the seal runs two inscriptions in Tamil script. In the top is mentioned தமிழ் நாடு அரசு ("Tamil Nadu arasu" which translates to "Government of Tamil Nadu") and the other at the bottom states வாய்மையே வெல்லும் ("Vaymaiye vellum" which translates to "Truth alone triumphs"). It is the only Indian state emblem that has the Indian flag and a temple tower on its seal. ^[1] The image of the Gopuram is based on the west tower of the Madurai Meenakshi Temple. ^{[1] [3]}

The Government of Tamil Nadu uses the emblem placed onto a white background as its official seal. ^{[4] [5]}

Historical emblems

• 
  Emblem of Madras Presidency of British India

See also

• Flag of Tamil Nadu
• National Emblem of India
• List of Indian state emblems
• List of Tamil Nadu state symbols
• Tamil Thai Valthu

References

1. Swaroop, Vishnu (7 November 2016). "Which Tamil Nadu temple is the state emblem?". Madurai . Retrieved 20 January 2018.
2. "Symbols of Tamil Nadu". TNPSC . 19 December 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
3. B.A, Pon Vasanth (14 April 2022). "A tower that is emblematic of the State". The Hindu . ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 17 August 2025.
4. "States of India since 1947". World statesman. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
5. "Governments in India". Vexilla Mundi. Retrieved 1 June 2025.