List of Tamil Nadu state symbols explained

This is a list of state symbols of the State of Tamil Nadu in India.[1]

State Symbols

TitleSymbolImageNotes
State EmblemTamiḻnāṭṭiṉ Ciṉṉam
தமிழ்நாட்டின் சின்னம்
Emblem of Tamil Nadu
The state emblem was designed in 1949 by artist R. Krishna Rao who was a native of Madurai. Krishna Rao was honoured with awards and titles for his contribution to the state. A student of the Government College of Fine Arts and Crafts in Chennai, who went on to become the principal of the college later, Rao was approached to design the emblem in 1948 when he was a professor of applied arts in the college.It consists of the Lion Capital of Ashoka without the bell lotus foundation and flanked on either side by an Indian flag. Behind the capital, is the image of a Gopuram or Hindu temple tower based on the Srivalliputhur Temple. Around the rim of the seal runs an inscription in Tamil script, one at the top தமிழ் நாடு அரசு ("Tamil Nadu Arasu" which translates to "Government of Tamil Nadu") and the other at the bottom வாய்மையே வெல்லும் ("Vaymaiye Vellum" which translates to "Truth Alone Triumphs" also commonly known as "Satyameva Jayate" in Sanskrit). It is the only state emblem that has the Indian Flag and Hindu temple tower on its seal.
State MottoVāymaiyē Vellum
வாய்மையே வெல்லும்
Truth Alone Triumphs
Vaaymaiyae Vellum is a quote taken from the Mundaka Upanishad, the concluding part of the sacred Hindu Vedas is the Sanskrit to Tamil language translation of Satyameva Jayate, the National Motto of the Republic of India.
State AnthemTamiḻttāy Vāḻttu - Nīrāruṅ kaṭaluṭutta nilamaṭantaik keḻiloḻukum
தமிழ்த்தாய் வாழ்த்து - நீராருங் கடலுடுத்த நிலமடந்தைக் கெழிலொழுகும்
Invocation to Mother Tamil - Water washes the land above the sea
Tamiḻttāy Vāḻttu is the state anthem of Tamil Nadu. It was written by Manonmaniam Sundaranar and composed by M. S. Viswanathan. The Government of Tamil Nadu issued an order to sing or play the anthem in the official functions of the government, and those functions organised by educational institutions and public establishments have started with this song and ended with the Indian National Anthem. The song is sung daily in schools all over Tamil Nadu during the assembly in the morning. It was adopted by Tamil Nadu as the state anthem on 23 November 1970.
State DayTamil Nadu Dhinam
தமிழ்நாடு தினம்
Tamil Nadu Day
Tamil Nadu Dhinam is celebrated in the state of Tamil Nadu to commemorate the formation of the state on 1 November 1956.
State LanguageTamiḻ
தமிழ்
Tamil
Tamil is the official language of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Tamil is one of the longest-surviving classical languages in the world.
State AnimalNilgiri Varaiyaadu
நீலகிரி வரையாடு
Nilgiri Tahr
Nilgiritragus hylocrius
Nilgiri Varaiyaadu is an ungulate that is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern portion of the Western and Eastern Ghats in the states of Tamil Nadu. It is the only species in the genus Nilgiritragus and is closely related to the sheep of the genus Ovis.
State BirdMaragadhappuraa
மரகதப்புறா
Common Emerald Dove
Chalcophaps indica
Maragadhappuraa is a widespread resident breeding pigeon native to the tropical and subtropical parts of the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The dove is also known by the names of green dove and green-winged pigeon.
State InsectTamil Maravan
தமிழ் மறவன்
Tamil Yeoman
Cirrochroa thais
Tamil Maravan is a species of nymphalidae butterfly found in tropical forest areas of India.
State FlowerChengaandhal
செங்காந்தள்
Flame Lily
Gloriosa superba
Chengaandhal is a species of flowering plant in the family of colchicaceae flowers.
State FruitPalaapalam
பலாப்பழம்
Jackfruit
Artocarpus heterophyllus
Palaapalam species of tree in the fig, mulberry, and breadfruit family (Moraceae) tree.
State TreePanai Maram
பனை மரம்
Palm Tree
Borassus flabellifer
Panai Maram is a genus of five species of fan palms, native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Papua New Guinea.
State SportKapaṭi
கபடி
Kabaddi
Kapaṭi is a contact team sport. Played between two teams of seven players. The objective of the game is for a single player on offense, referred to as a "raider", to run into the opposing team's half of the court, touch out as many of their players and return to their own half of the court, all without being tackled by the defenders in 30 seconds. Points are scored for each player tagged by the raider, while the opposing team earns a point for stopping the raider. Players are taken out of the game if they are touched or tackled, but are brought back in for each point scored by their team from a tag or a tackle.
State Dance FormParatanāṭṭiyam
பரதநாட்டியம்
Bharathanatyam
Paratanāṭṭiyam is an Indian classical dance form that originated in Tamil Nadu. It is one of eight Indian classical dance forms recognized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and expresses South Indian religious themes and spiritual ideas, particularly of Shaivism and in general of Hinduism.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: States and Union Territories Symbols. https://web.archive.org/web/20170908003348/http://knowindia.gov.in/national-identity-elements/states-ut-symbol-s-z.php. dead. 8 September 2017. Know India.gov.in. 18 April 2020.