The coat of arms of Nepal was changed during the reconciliation period following the Nepalese Civil War. On 30 December 2006, a new coat of arms was introduced. It contains the flag of Nepal, Mount Everest, green hills symbolising the hilly regions of Nepal and yellow colour symbolising the fertile Terai region, male and female hands joining to symbolise gender equality, and a garland of rhododendrons (the national flower). Atop this is a white silhouette in the shape of Nepal.
At the base of the design a red scroll carries the national motto in Sanskrit: जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपी गरीयसी (jananī janmabhūmiśca svargādapi garīyasī), which translates as "The mother and the motherland are greater than heaven." [1] Complete Sanskrit verse is
- अपि स्वर्णमयी लंका न मे लक्ष्मण रोचते ।
- जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी ।।
Translation in English
- I do not care for Lanka, Lakshmana, even though it be made of gold.
- One’s mother and one’s native land are worth more even than heaven
Popularly believed to be quoted by Lord Rama when his brother Lakshmana expresses desire to stay back in Lanka. This quote is unconfirmed to be from Ramayana but is cited in Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's work Anandamath [2]
The coat of arms in use before 30 December 2006 consists of a white cow, a green pheasant (Himalayan Monal), two Gurkha soldiers (one carrying a kukri and a bow, and the other a rifle), peaks of the Himalayas, two crossed Nepalese flags and kukris, the footprints of Gorakhnath (the guardian deity of the Gurkhas) and the royal headress. It also contained the same red scroll with the national motto. This coat of arms was preceded by the Emblem of Nepal.
References
- ^ People's Daily Online - Nepal to change new coat of arms
- ^ Pradip Bhattacharya, IAS "The problem of Janani janmabhumishca in Anand Math"July 20, 2002.
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