The Sengol, installed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the new Parliament building on May 28, is a Chola dynasty-era sceptre that was traditionally passed on from one ruler to the other.
The historic significance of the golden Sangol was underlined by PM Modi on the occasion. “It signified the transfer of power from the British to the Indians.”
He said that the transfer of power is not merely a handshake or signing a document but it must remain connected with local traditions keeping in mind modern needs.
Symbol of Amrit Kaal
“It will shine near the Lok Sabha Speaker’s podium as a national symbol of the Amrit Kaal, an era that will witness the New India taking its rightful place in the world,” PM Modi said. Sengol is considered to be the symbol of justice, transfer of power, and good governance.
As the Independence of India drew near, Jawaharlal Nehru and other luminaries of the Indian National Congress partook in many religious ceremonies that sought to augur well for the incipient nation and received a multitude of gifts in the process.
Transfer of power
On one such occasion, on August 14, 1947, Sengol was presented to India’s Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru by the by emissaries from the Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam Matha at his home, to mark the transfer of power from the British Government to India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
The event had negligible afterlife in the social sphere since then. The Sengol was kept at the Nehru Gallery of the Allahabad Museum, labelled as a ‘Golden Stick gifted to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to adopt it as a national symbol of the Amrit Kaal and install it in the new Parliament building. The placement of the Sengol in Parliament is a significant event that has the potential to motivate, unite and inspire the people of India. It is a symbol of India’s independence and its journey to democracy.
By placing the Sengol in the Parliament House, the Government is sending a message that India is a sovereign nation that is committed to democracy.
A symbol of Righteousness
NEW DELHI: Sengol comes from a Tamil word ‘Semmai’, which means righteousness. In Tamil tradition, the ‘Sengol’ reminds the king that he has the ‘aanai’ (decree) to rule justly and fairly. It is a sceptre made of gold and silver and is decorated with many precious stones.
The Sengol is five-feet-long and carries a golden orb at the top. The orb has a carving of Nandi, the bull that is precious to Lord Shiva. The Sengol is a powerful symbol of the Chola kings’ authority and their commitment to justice.
The Press Information Bureau states: “It is blessed by the high priests of a leading Dharmic Mutt in Tamil Nadu. The Nandi, with its unyielding gaze as the beholder of ‘Nyaya’, is hand-carved at the top.”
