Thursday, October 04, 2007

Sanskrit in the Mottos of some popular organizations

Thanks to the prevailing "secular" atmosphere in the country, there was a huge hue and cry in the media about the recent ruling of Allahbad High Court on Gita as a national dharm granth. Secularism has now become equal to the negation of any kind of religious symbolism. So I did a small search of the Mottos of various organization in India. Surprisingly many of the Mottos, including that of our Indian State itself (Satyameva Jayate) are in Sanskrit and taken from Hindu Scriptures like Gita and Upanishads.

People who are shocked at the mere reference by a "secular" court to a "religious" Gita may ponder on these:



S.No

Organization

Motto

Meaning

1.

Indian Navy

Shano Varuna

May the Lord of the Oceans be Auspicious Unto Us (Tattraiya Upanishad)

2.

Indian Air Force

Nabha Sparsham Deeptam

Touching the Sky With Glory (Gita 11:24)

3.

Indian Coast Guard

vayam rakShaamaH

We protect (Bala kanda of Valmiki Ramayana)

4.

Reserve Bank of India - Bankers Training College

buddhau sharaNam anvichcha

Seek Refuge in Reason - Let intelligence be thy sole quest (Gita 2:49)

5.

Life Insurance Corporation of India

yogakshemam vahaamyaham

I shall take care of the well-being (Gita 9:22)

6.

Defence Service Staff College

Yuddham pragayya

To war with wisdom

Some Army Units

7.

The Madras Regiment

Swadharme Nidhanam Shreyaha

It is a glory to die doing one’s duty

8.

Grenadiers Regiment

Sarvada Shaktishali

Ever Powerful

9.

The Rajputana Rifles

Veer Bhogya Vasundhara

The Brave Shall Reap the Earth

10.

The Dogra Regiment

Kartavyam Anvatma

Duty Before Death

11.

The Garhwal Rifles

Yudhaya Krit Nischya

Fight With Determination

12.

The Kumaon Regiment

Prakramo Vijayate

Valour Triumphs

13.

The Jammu and Kashmir Rifles

Prashata Ranvirta

Valour in Battle is Praiseworthy

14.

The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry

Balidanam Vir Lakshanam

Sacrifice is a Sign of the Brave

Universities

15.

Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad

Vidya Viniyogadvikāsaha

16.

Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

Tejasvi Nāvadhitamastu

17.

Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode

Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam

18.

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

Gyanam Paramam Dhyeyam

19.

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur

Tamaso Mā Jyotirgamaya

20.

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam

21.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Siddhirbhavati Karmaja

22.

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

Shramam Binam Na Kimapi Sādhyam

23.

Kendriya Vidyalaya

Tat Twam Pushan Apavrinu

24.

Central Board of Secondary Education

Asato Ma Sadgamaya

25.

Bengal Engineering & Science University,Shibpur

Uttisthita Jagrata Prapya Baraan Nibidhata

26.

Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani

Jnanam Paramam Balam

27.

Gujarat National Law University

Aa Na Bhadro, Kratavo Yantu Vishwata

28.

Indian Statistical Institute

Bhanineshvaikyasay Darshanam

29.

Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya

Dhiyo Yonaha Prachodayat

30.

Madan Mohan Malaviya Engineering College, Gorakhpur

Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam

31.

Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad

Siddhirbhavati Karmaja

32.

National Law School of India University

Dharmo Rakshati Rakshata

33.

Sri Sathya Sai University

Sathyam vada dharmam chara

34.

Sri Venkateswara University

jnanam samyaga vekshanam

35.

University of Calicut

Nirmaya Karmana Sree

36.

University of Colombo (Sri Lanka)

buddhih sarvatra brājate

37.

University of Delhi

Nishtā drithih Satyam

38.

University of Kerala

Karmani Vyajyate Prajna

39.

University of Moratuwa (Sri Lanka)

Vidyaiwa Sarwadhanam

40.

University of Peradeniya (Sri Lanka)

Sarvasva Locanam Sāstram

41.

University of Rajasthan

Dharmo Vishwasya Jagatah Pratishtha

42.

Sri Venkateswara University

jnanam samyaga vekshanam

43.

Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur

Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam

44.

West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences

Yuktiheena Vicharetu Dharmahnih Prajayate

45.

Andhra University

Tejasvi Nāvadhitamastu

46.

Banasthali Vidyapith

Sa Vidya Ya Vimuktaye




PS: Thanks to the following sites for helping me as a good starting points.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Military_Unit_Mottoes_by_Country#India

http://hitxp.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/great-sanskrit-hymns/

http://www.answers.com/topic/list-of-educational-institutions-which-have-sanskrit-phrases-as-their-mottoes