Emblem of Maharashtra

Design

The emblem is a circular seal depicting a Samai diya lamp surrounded by 16 lotus blossoms. Between the Samai lamp and lotus blossoms is a motto in Sanskrit: प्रतिपच्चंद्रलेखेव वर्धिष्णुर्विश्व वंदिता महाराष्ट्रस्य राज्यस्य मुद्रा भद्राय राजते, romanized: Pratipaccandralēkhēva vardhiṣṇurviśva vanditā mahārāṣṭrasya rājyasya mudrā bhadrāya rājatē, lit. 'The glory of this seal of the State Government of Maharashtra shall grow like the first day of the moon. It shall be worshipped by the world and shall shine only for the well being of its people.' The motto is based on one found on the "Rajmudra" (royal seal) used by 17th-century Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji, the only difference being that the name of the monarch is replaced by the name of the state.