Even a student knows that each country has its own specific symbolism. In this article I want to talk about what the coat of arms of Nepal is like, what is depicted on it and how it has changed for over 80 years.
A little bit about the country
First of all, I want to give a brief description of such a country as Nepal. This is a representative of the Asian continent, which together with India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and China forms an amazing culture and geographical diversity of this region of the globe. It is worth saying that this country is surprisingly geographically rich, and its expanses lie on the slopes of the Himalayas (in this country is the highest point of the Himalayas - Everest, or Chomolungma, in the local dialect it is called Sanghamitra, which means "lord of heaven"). Nepal borders with India in the south, west and east, as well as with China in the north. It will be interesting and unexpected for many that the respected prince Siddhartha Gautama Shakyamuni, that is, Buddha, was born precisely in Lumbini, Nepal.
A little bit about the coat of arms
What does the coat of arms of Nepal look like? It is worth saying that it was approved recently, only in 2006, before that it was somewhat different. What did the modern coat of arms combine in itself?
- Handshake of female and male hands, which means gender equality throughout the country, and can also be interpreted as friendship.
- In the background is the top of Mount Everest, slightly lower - the slopes of other mountains.
- In a circle flaunts a garland of rhododendrons - flowers, which are also a symbol of Nepal.
- at the very top, between the branches of the rhododendron, the flag of Nepal is located (two triangles - the symbols of the mountains, in which the sun and the moon are symbols of royal power).
- At the very bottom on a dark red ribbon (the color of the country) is an inscription in Sanskrit, which translates as follows: “Mother and Motherland are more than the kingdom of heaven.”
The history of the coat of arms
It is worth saying that over the past 80 years, the coat of arms of Nepal has undergone three different changes, until it became what it looks like at the moment.
- From 1935 to 1946, he looked completely different. On the coat of arms at that time there was a shield of heraldic form, on which a Hindu deity was depicted. On the sides were two male shieldholders, the military. On top were two crossed Nepalese blades.
- In 1946, the coat of arms of Nepal changed slightly. The essence remained the same, but the clothes of one of the shield holders changed.
- In 1962, the Nepali coat of arms was again changed. However, now it’s not just redesigned, but as if created anew. So, the military remained, but there were mountains, a white cow (a sacred animal on the territory of the country, a person will certainly be punished for its killing), a bird, blades are preserved, but have been somewhat modified. Small garlands of rhododendrons also appeared, as well as elements from the flag: the sun and moon on the sides of the coat of arms (symbolizing, in addition to royal authority, the desire of the inhabitants of Nepal to live forever, like these celestial bodies).
About mountains
It is worth saying that some elements have always adorned the coat of arms of Nepal. The mountain and mountain slopes, for example, have always been in the background of all four historically famous emblems. What exactly is depicted there? This is the top of the highest mountain, which beckons tourists, - Everest. It will also be interesting that it is in Nepal that eight of the ten mountains are located, which are the highest in the world. Therefore, it is not surprising that the mountain peaks have always been one of the most important symbols of the country, which must have been decorated with a coat of arms.
