Emblem of Sikkim
The seal of Sikkim, also called Kham-sum-wangdue (Sikkimese: ༄༅།ཁམས་གསུམ་དབང་འདུས།), is used by the government of Sikkim as its symbol. It was designed in 1877 by Robert Taylor in European style and previously the coat of arms during the latter period of the Sikkimese monarchy.[1]
Overview
The central shield, supported by European dragons, consists of a Buddhist khorlo prayer wheel with the gankyil as the central element. Above is a helmet more in line with European armorial bearings, and atop that is the right-turning conch, a Buddhist pictogram representing the pervasive sound of the Buddhadharma which awakens disciples and urges them to accomplish their own welfare and the welfare of others.
The coat of arms comprises the Tibetan words Kham-sum-wangdü, which literally means "the conqueror of the three worlds".[2]
With the annexation of Sikkim to India, and with the abolition of the monarchy, the flag of Sikkim lost its official status, but the symbol was retained.
See also
References
- ^ SIKKIM / DÄMOJONG
- ^ Tenzin C. Tashi, The ‘Kham-sum-ongdu’, the coat of arms of the Namgyal dynasty
External links
