New Delhi: On August 15, 1947, India gained Independence from the yoke of British colonial rule. It was and is an occasion of momentous joy, a testament to the resolve of the freedom fighters and the common people in fighting against oppression. Every sovereign, independent country needs a flag of its own. India’s national flag with saffron, white and green with the Ashoka Chakra at its centre was adopted in its present form at a Constituent Assembly meeting on July 22, 1947. On August 15, 1947, it became the official flag of the Union of India and later, that of the Republic of India. The Ashoka Chakra holds immense significance and in this article, we will take a look at some of its lesser-known facts.
Lesser-known facts about the Ashoka Chakra
The Ashoka Chakra depicts the Dharmachakra or the Wheel of Dharma and it appears on several edicts of Emperor Ashoka.
One of the most prominent appearances of Ashoka Chakra is the Lion Capital of Ashoka which is the head of a column erected by Emperor Ashoka in Sarnath.
Today, the Ashoka Chakra is most famously seen at the centre of the Indian flag in a navy blue colour on a white with 24 spokes.
In the Indian flags before Independence, the spinning wheel used to be at the centre. It was India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru who proposed in the Constituent Assembly that the wheel on the abacus be the model for the wheel in the centre of the new national flag.
The 24 spokes depict the 12 causal links that Lord Buddha taught and the paṭiccasamuppāda (which means Dependent Origination, Conditional Arising) in forward and reverse ways.
The first 12 spokes of the Ashoka Chakra represent the 12 stages of suffering while the ‘no cause no effect’ theory is depicted in the next 12 spokes. It means that the mind’s awareness stops the formation of mental conditioning and that, in turn, stops the process of birth and death. The Ashoka Chakra also means the ‘wheel of time’.
Thus, the 12 causal links in forward and reverse ways are depicted in the 24 spokes which, in turn, represent Dharma. It refers to the 24 principles that a human being should have.
While being included in the national flag, the spokes of the Ashoka Chakra got a different interpretation which each spoke depicting a value including bravery, righteousness, selflessness, endurance, love, and spiritual wisdom. Also, it shows that while movement brings life, death brings stagnation.
The meaning of each spoke in a particular order from the first spoke to the 24th spoke is Chastity, Health, Peace, Sacrifice, Morality, Service, Forgiveness, Love, Friendship, Fraternity, Organization, Welfare, Prosperity, Industry, Safety, Awareness, Equality, Artha, Policy, Justice, Co-operation, Duties, Rights and Wisdom.
The Ashoka Chakra depicts the Dharmachakra or the Wheel of Dharma and it appears on several edicts of Emperor Ashoka. It was included in the national flag on the recommendation of former PM Jawaharlal Nehru. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
