Seal of Kerala
Encyclopedia
The State emblem of Kerala
used by Government of Kerala
, to represent the state in all its official correspondences. The emblem symbolizes 2 elephants guarding the state and national insignias
.
(Conch) in its imperial crest. The crest is garlanded with a wreath over which India's national emblem-Sarnath Lion Capital is found, as common to all Indian states. Beneath the sheath, its inscribed as "Tamasoma Jyothirgamaya" in Sanskrit inscribed in Devanagari script, which translated to "May light spells away darkness". The current emblem of Kerala was adopted in 1960 when Pattom A. Thanu Pillai
's government came to power after removal of communist government
by Indian Central Government.
who ruled much of the modern Kerala until 1102 AD. The first line of Chera dynasty was derived from Tamil dynasties belong to Sangam Era (350 BC-250 AD) and traditionally belonging to Villuvar clan (Hunters). As a result, the original state emblem of the Chera country was a Bow and arrow in charged position facing towards east (as a sign of preparedness for a war against its eastern neighbors)
The second line of Cheras also used the traditional emblem of Bow and Arrow, however, rather facing east, the position was changed to northern direction in charged position. References to the bow and arrow were given in many early inscriptions as well as rock edicts and more commonly in few copper plate grants issued by the Chera Emperors.
As the second line Cheras were more adherent to Lord Vishnu, the emblem of Conch
, which represents Lord Vishnu, started extensively used in various flags and personal insignias.
, ruled by powerful Mooshika dynasty, who believes to direct descent of first line of Chera Emperors. Their Royal emblem consisted of a small boat (Thoni) beneath, a chained oil lamp (changalavattam) above it, further above a vertically placed the Great Sword of Nandakam, followed on either adjacent sides by a Vaakapoovu, a red colour flower known for its fragrance. The first large empire to be formed in post Chera period under the suzerainty of Nair Kings, the Zamorins
of Calicut
. The Zamorins was the first state to mark use of a formal state emblem, that can be regularly used as identification of the state in all its official correspondences.
The legend says, that during partition of Kerala, the last Chera Emperor did not give any land to his most trusted Nair lieutenant. Due to the feel of guilt, the emperor gave his personal sword (Odaval) and his favourite prayer conch
which was broken, to his general and asked him to occupy as much as land he can with his might. The general established the state of Kozhikode
and created an empire for himself. As a token of his respect to the Chera Emperor, the Zamorins adopted the logo of 2 swords crossed each other, with a broken conch
in middle and a lighted lamp above it. Soon this became the official emblem of Malabar until 1766 AD, when Mysore state under leadership of Hyder Ali
defeated the Zamorins and annexed the state into it.
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The Portuguese, after issues with Zamorin, soon made Fort Kochi
as its capital, after gaining extra-terrotorial rights from Kochi King. During this time, the emblem of Portuguese Kochi was Red Shield with Icons of Fort Immanuel (Older name of Fort Kochi) with a sailing wheel on top of it and a ship advancing, representing the maritime relations of Portuguese with India. The original logo, though designed in Kochi to represent the new state, it was formally unveiled in 1510 after transferring the capital to Portuguese Goa State
.
The Dutch under Dutch East India Company
, soon came to Kochi and took over the Fort Immanuel from Portuguese after the Battle of Kochi in 1510. With this Kochi came under Dutch protection.
The Dutch Cochin shared the emblem of Dutch East India Company
as its formal state emblem. The emblem was just a monogram carrying VOC, an abbreviation of Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie. The remains of the official emblem of Dutch Cochin, can be still seen on top of VOC Gate in Fort Kochi
, which as the main office of Dutch establishment in India.
. The traditional emblem consists of 4 icons namely, a palanquin, umbrella, lamp and a conch, representing aristocracy, welfare, prosperity and enlightenment respectively.
In 1795, Sakthan Thampuran
, the most celebrated ruler of Kochi proclaimed the formal adoption of Kochi State Emblem. While the core elements of 4 icons was retained with a circular shield, decorated within a circular laurel carrying the official motto "Manadhan kula swatha" in Sanskrit (meaning Honor is our Family Property). The new emblem was recognized by British Government as official emblem of the Kingdom of Kochi and regularly used in all correspondences and decrees of the state.
In 1902, H.H Rajarishi Rama Varma Maharaja
modified the state emblem to suit to his western tastes. 2 guarding elephants were added, in addition to a banner below the original emblem carrying the official motto in English along with addition of Kochi Crown Image to its crest. The emblem continued to represent the Kingdom until 1947 when the state merged with Travancore
to form a new state of Travancore-Kochi.
was formed in 1729, under leadership of H.H Marthanda Varma
. Since the days of Venad, the family emblem of Thrippapur Swaroopam namely a right swelled Conch
was used to represent the state. As the family deity was Lord Sree Padmanabha, the emblem of conch was widely used. Marthanda Varma added 2 laurels to it, to decorate the image which was used extensively in banners, flags, personal standards and coins until 1948.
In 1939, the Government of Travancore unveiled its new emblem with 2 elephants guarding the imperial crest of Shanku with a banner below to its crest carrying the words "Sri Padmanabha" in devanagiri script. The new coat of arms was the 4th emblem for the Kingdom of Travancore.
In addition, the Travancore had an western styled coat of arms, awarded by British Government during Delhi Durbar
as well as individual Royal Cypher during reigns of each monarch, which will abbreviation of name of the reigning monarch in English with emblem of Shankhu on top of it.
In 1948, the Kingdoms of Travancore and Kochi merged together to form a state called Travancore-Kochi (Thiru-Kochi) within realms of Indian Union after deciding to ascend into Indian Union soon after Indian Independence.
The newly formed government, under leadership of Parur T. K. Narayana Pillai decided to adopt a new emblem for the state. The emblem was mixture of Travancore Coat of Arms along with Indian Union. 2 elephants in guarding position with an Indian Dharma Chakra
in middle and the Sree Padmanabha's Shanku on top of it with a banner carrying words "Government of Travancore-Kochi" written in English. The emblem was in use until 1956.
came to power. The newly formed Communist Government decided to adopt a different state emblem as the emblem in use was an inherited legacy of monarchy days. The state emblem with the Communist Government adopted in 1957 featured an Indian elephant representing Cochin, 2 Shanku
on its crest representing Northern and Southern Travancore respectively and two palm-trees for the Northern and Southern Malabar, encircled in a crest with Indian National emblem on top.
However much of the public was against the move to adopt new emblem and opposed it vigorously.
from power in 1959, the newly formed Congress led coalition government adopted the current emblem with slight modifications from original Travancore Coat of Arms. The emblem devised by Communist Government was later adopted by Kerala Police
with slight modifications to represent the force.
The Travancore Royal Family
uses the erstwhile Royal Coat of Arms of Travancore today for its official purposes, though commonly the Imperial Insignia of Shanku is used more commonly.whereas Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple of Trivandrum uses only the Imperial Conch crest as its Coat of Arms.
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
used by Government of Kerala
Government of Kerala
The Government of Kerala is a democratically elected body that governs the State of Kerala, India for a period of 5 years. The state government is headed by the Governor of Kerala as the nominal head of state, with a democratically elected Chief Minister as real head of the executive. The state...
, to represent the state in all its official correspondences. The emblem symbolizes 2 elephants guarding the state and national insignias
National emblem
A national emblem symbolically represents a nation. Most national emblems originate in the natural world, such as animals or birds, but another object may serve. National emblems may appear on many things such as the national flag, coat of arms, or other patriotic materials...
.
Description
The official Kerala emblem is a derivative version of the Royal coat of arms of the Kingdom of Travancore. The state emblem symbolizes two elephants guarding the imperial Sree Padmanabha's ShankuConch
A conch is a common name which is applied to a number of different species of medium-sized to large sea snails or their shells, generally those which are large and have a high spire and a siphonal canal....
(Conch) in its imperial crest. The crest is garlanded with a wreath over which India's national emblem-Sarnath Lion Capital is found, as common to all Indian states. Beneath the sheath, its inscribed as "Tamasoma Jyothirgamaya" in Sanskrit inscribed in Devanagari script, which translated to "May light spells away darkness". The current emblem of Kerala was adopted in 1960 when Pattom A. Thanu Pillai
Pattom A. Thanu Pillai
Pattom A. Thanu Pillai was a participant in the Indian independence movement who later served as the Chief Minister of Kerala from 22 February 1960 to 25 September 1962....
's government came to power after removal of communist government
E. M. S. Namboodiripad
Elamkulam Manakkal Sankaran Namboodiripad, , popularly known as EMS, was an Indian Communist leader and the first Chief Minister of Kerala. As the first non-Congress chief minister in independent India, he became the leader of the first democratically elected communist government in the world...
by Indian Central Government.
Ancient Kerala
The earliest references of a national emblem in Kerala can be traced to times of Imperial CherasChera dynasty
Chera Dynasty in South India is one of the most ancient ruling dynasties in India. Together with the Cholas and the Pandyas, they formed the three principle warring Iron Age Tamil kingdoms in southern India...
who ruled much of the modern Kerala until 1102 AD. The first line of Chera dynasty was derived from Tamil dynasties belong to Sangam Era (350 BC-250 AD) and traditionally belonging to Villuvar clan (Hunters). As a result, the original state emblem of the Chera country was a Bow and arrow in charged position facing towards east (as a sign of preparedness for a war against its eastern neighbors)
The second line of Cheras also used the traditional emblem of Bow and Arrow, however, rather facing east, the position was changed to northern direction in charged position. References to the bow and arrow were given in many early inscriptions as well as rock edicts and more commonly in few copper plate grants issued by the Chera Emperors.
Medieval Kerala
Much of the medieval period started after partition of Chera Empire by last Chera Emperor, Cheraman Perumal in 1102 AD, forming a numerous small feudal states and larger kingdoms like Kochi, Zamorin, Venad etc.As the second line Cheras were more adherent to Lord Vishnu, the emblem of Conch
Shankha
Shankha bhasam , also spelled and pronounced as Shankh and Sankha, is a conch shell of ritual and religious importance in Hinduism and Buddhism. It is the shell of a large predatory sea snail,Turbinella pyrum found in the Indian Ocean....
, which represents Lord Vishnu, started extensively used in various flags and personal insignias.
Malabar
The Malabar region comprised primarily two major kingdoms. The first and oldest among them was Kolathunadu (Chirakkal)Kolathiri
Kolathiri or Kolathiri Rājā was the title by which the senior most male along the matilinial line of the Mushika or Kolathunādu Royal Family was styled...
, ruled by powerful Mooshika dynasty, who believes to direct descent of first line of Chera Emperors. Their Royal emblem consisted of a small boat (Thoni) beneath, a chained oil lamp (changalavattam) above it, further above a vertically placed the Great Sword of Nandakam, followed on either adjacent sides by a Vaakapoovu, a red colour flower known for its fragrance. The first large empire to be formed in post Chera period under the suzerainty of Nair Kings, the Zamorins
Saamoothiri
Zamorin is the title used by the Hindu Eradi Samanthan kshatriya rulers of the erstwhile late medieval feudal kingdom of Kozhikode located in the present day state of Kerala, India....
of Calicut
History of Kozhikode
Kozhikode , also known as Calicut, is a city in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is the third largest city in Kerala and the headquarters of Kozhikode district....
. The Zamorins was the first state to mark use of a formal state emblem, that can be regularly used as identification of the state in all its official correspondences.
The legend says, that during partition of Kerala, the last Chera Emperor did not give any land to his most trusted Nair lieutenant. Due to the feel of guilt, the emperor gave his personal sword (Odaval) and his favourite prayer conch
Shankha
Shankha bhasam , also spelled and pronounced as Shankh and Sankha, is a conch shell of ritual and religious importance in Hinduism and Buddhism. It is the shell of a large predatory sea snail,Turbinella pyrum found in the Indian Ocean....
which was broken, to his general and asked him to occupy as much as land he can with his might. The general established the state of Kozhikode
Kozhikode
Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
and created an empire for himself. As a token of his respect to the Chera Emperor, the Zamorins adopted the logo of 2 swords crossed each other, with a broken conch
Shankha
Shankha bhasam , also spelled and pronounced as Shankh and Sankha, is a conch shell of ritual and religious importance in Hinduism and Buddhism. It is the shell of a large predatory sea snail,Turbinella pyrum found in the Indian Ocean....
in middle and a lighted lamp above it. Soon this became the official emblem of Malabar until 1766 AD, when Mysore state under leadership of Hyder Ali
Hyder Ali
Hyder Ali was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India. Born Hyder Naik, he distinguished himself militarily, eventually drawing the attention of Mysore's rulers...
defeated the Zamorins and annexed the state into it.
Portuguese Cochin
Fort Kochi
Fort Kochi is a region in the city of Kochi in the state of Kerala, India. This is part of a handful of water-bound regions toward the south-west of the mainland Kochi, and collectively known as Old Kochi or West Kochi. Adjacent to this is Mattancherry...
as its capital, after gaining extra-terrotorial rights from Kochi King. During this time, the emblem of Portuguese Kochi was Red Shield with Icons of Fort Immanuel (Older name of Fort Kochi) with a sailing wheel on top of it and a ship advancing, representing the maritime relations of Portuguese with India. The original logo, though designed in Kochi to represent the new state, it was formally unveiled in 1510 after transferring the capital to Portuguese Goa State
Portuguese Goa State
Main article:Portuguese IndiaPortuguese Goa State refers to the rule of Portugal in the Indian state of Goa. The government started in 1505, six years after the discovery of sea route to India by Vasco da Gama, with the nomination of the first Viceroy Francisco de Almeida, then settled at Kochi...
.
Dutch Cochin
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
, soon came to Kochi and took over the Fort Immanuel from Portuguese after the Battle of Kochi in 1510. With this Kochi came under Dutch protection.
The Dutch Cochin shared the emblem of Dutch East India Company
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
as its formal state emblem. The emblem was just a monogram carrying VOC, an abbreviation of Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie. The remains of the official emblem of Dutch Cochin, can be still seen on top of VOC Gate in Fort Kochi
Fort Kochi
Fort Kochi is a region in the city of Kochi in the state of Kerala, India. This is part of a handful of water-bound regions toward the south-west of the mainland Kochi, and collectively known as Old Kochi or West Kochi. Adjacent to this is Mattancherry...
, which as the main office of Dutch establishment in India.
Kingdom of Kochi
While Portuguese, Dutch and British were fighting each other over Fort Kochi and allied possessions, the Kingdom of Kochi retained its autonomy and maintained its administration separately. The Kingdom of Kochi has its traditional emblem derived its traditional family - the Perumpadappu SwaroopamCochin Royal Family
The Cochin royal family were rulers of Cochin, or Kochi, India. They were also known as Perumpadapu Swaroopam or Kuru Swaroopam.-Tradition of Perumpadapu Swaroopam:...
. The traditional emblem consists of 4 icons namely, a palanquin, umbrella, lamp and a conch, representing aristocracy, welfare, prosperity and enlightenment respectively.
In 1795, Sakthan Thampuran
Sakthan Thampuran
Rama Varma Kunhjipilla Thampuran , or Rama Varma IX, popularly known as Sakthan Thampuran , was the ruler of Cochin. He was the King of Cochin and his palace was in Thrissur. Thrissur is the cultural capital of Kerala and Sakthan Thampuran is the very architect of Thrissur city. Thrissur Pooram was...
, the most celebrated ruler of Kochi proclaimed the formal adoption of Kochi State Emblem. While the core elements of 4 icons was retained with a circular shield, decorated within a circular laurel carrying the official motto "Manadhan kula swatha" in Sanskrit (meaning Honor is our Family Property). The new emblem was recognized by British Government as official emblem of the Kingdom of Kochi and regularly used in all correspondences and decrees of the state.
In 1902, H.H Rajarishi Rama Varma Maharaja
Sir Sri Rama Varma
Sir Sri Rama Varma XV GCSI GCIE popularly known as The Rajarshi Of Cochin and as Abdicated Highness, was the ruler of the Kingdom of Cochin from 1895 to 1914.- Reign :...
modified the state emblem to suit to his western tastes. 2 guarding elephants were added, in addition to a banner below the original emblem carrying the official motto in English along with addition of Kochi Crown Image to its crest. The emblem continued to represent the Kingdom until 1947 when the state merged with Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
to form a new state of Travancore-Kochi.
Kingdom of Travancore
TravancoreTravancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
was formed in 1729, under leadership of H.H Marthanda Varma
Marthanda Varma
Marthanda Varma , was the founder of the Indian Hindu feudal kingdom of Travancore from Venad SwaroopamHe ruled from 1729 till his death in 1758, having succeeded his maternal uncle Dharma Raja.King Marthanda Varma is usually credited as the "founder of Kingdom of Travancore" from...
. Since the days of Venad, the family emblem of Thrippapur Swaroopam namely a right swelled Conch
Shankha
Shankha bhasam , also spelled and pronounced as Shankh and Sankha, is a conch shell of ritual and religious importance in Hinduism and Buddhism. It is the shell of a large predatory sea snail,Turbinella pyrum found in the Indian Ocean....
was used to represent the state. As the family deity was Lord Sree Padmanabha, the emblem of conch was widely used. Marthanda Varma added 2 laurels to it, to decorate the image which was used extensively in banners, flags, personal standards and coins until 1948.
In 1939, the Government of Travancore unveiled its new emblem with 2 elephants guarding the imperial crest of Shanku with a banner below to its crest carrying the words "Sri Padmanabha" in devanagiri script. The new coat of arms was the 4th emblem for the Kingdom of Travancore.
In addition, the Travancore had an western styled coat of arms, awarded by British Government during Delhi Durbar
Delhi Durbar
The Delhi Durbar , meaning "Court of Delhi", was a mass assembly at Coronation Park, Delhi, India, to mark the coronation of a King and Queen of the United Kingdom. Also known as the Imperial Durbar, it was held three times, in 1877, 1903, and 1911, at the height of the British Empire. The 1911...
as well as individual Royal Cypher during reigns of each monarch, which will abbreviation of name of the reigning monarch in English with emblem of Shankhu on top of it.
Travancore-Kochi
The newly formed government, under leadership of Parur T. K. Narayana Pillai decided to adopt a new emblem for the state. The emblem was mixture of Travancore Coat of Arms along with Indian Union. 2 elephants in guarding position with an Indian Dharma Chakra
Ashoka Chakra
The Ashoka Chakra is depiction of the Buddhist Dharmachakra, represented with 24 spokes. It is so called because it appears on a number of edicts of Ashoka, most prominent among which is the Lion Capital of Sarnath which has been adopted as the National Emblem of the Republic of India.The most...
in middle and the Sree Padmanabha's Shanku on top of it with a banner carrying words "Government of Travancore-Kochi" written in English. The emblem was in use until 1956.
Communist Kerala
With passing of States Reorganization Act of 1956 by Indian Parliament, the state of Kerala was formed merging Travancore-Cochin with Malabar. After the elections of 1957, the communists led by E. M. S. NamboodiripadE. M. S. Namboodiripad
Elamkulam Manakkal Sankaran Namboodiripad, , popularly known as EMS, was an Indian Communist leader and the first Chief Minister of Kerala. As the first non-Congress chief minister in independent India, he became the leader of the first democratically elected communist government in the world...
came to power. The newly formed Communist Government decided to adopt a different state emblem as the emblem in use was an inherited legacy of monarchy days. The state emblem with the Communist Government adopted in 1957 featured an Indian elephant representing Cochin, 2 Shanku
Shankha
Shankha bhasam , also spelled and pronounced as Shankh and Sankha, is a conch shell of ritual and religious importance in Hinduism and Buddhism. It is the shell of a large predatory sea snail,Turbinella pyrum found in the Indian Ocean....
on its crest representing Northern and Southern Travancore respectively and two palm-trees for the Northern and Southern Malabar, encircled in a crest with Indian National emblem on top.
However much of the public was against the move to adopt new emblem and opposed it vigorously.
Present
With the removal of communist governmentVimochana Samaram
The Liberation Struggle is an anti-Communist socio-political agitation started in 1958 against the first elected government in Kerala state, India under Communist Chief Minister E. M. S. Namboodiripad...
from power in 1959, the newly formed Congress led coalition government adopted the current emblem with slight modifications from original Travancore Coat of Arms. The emblem devised by Communist Government was later adopted by Kerala Police
Kerala Police
The Kerala State Police is the law enforcement agency for the state of Kerala, India. Kerala Police has its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital. The Police training college was set up by Travancore Maharaja in Thiruvananthapuram in mid 20th centuary. In 2004,a larger Kerala...
with slight modifications to represent the force.
Other Versions
Though the official state emblem is governed as per Government Order passed in 1960, a slight modified versions are used by certain Government departments. For example, Industries Department uses a cog wheel around the Shanku emblem as the shield, whereas local self governments like Panchyats etc. uses a Ashoka Chakra as the shield around the Shanku. Kerala Sports Council replaces traditional laurel as shield as well as Indian emblem as its emblem leaving just 2 elephants and Shanku. Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, also uses the state emblem in a different shade and replaces the banner with KSRTC lettering.The Travancore Royal Family
Travancore Royal Family
The Travancore Royal Family descended from the Venad line of the Cheras and ruled over the Indian state of Travancore until 1947.The Royal family, alternatively known as the Kupaka Royal Family, Thripappur Swaroopam, Venad Swaroopam, Vanchi Swaroopam etc., has its seat today at Trivandrum in...
uses the erstwhile Royal Coat of Arms of Travancore today for its official purposes, though commonly the Imperial Insignia of Shanku is used more commonly.whereas Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple of Trivandrum uses only the Imperial Conch crest as its Coat of Arms.