What does 24 spokes of Ashok Chakra mean?
On many inscriptions of Emperor Ashoka, there is usually a wheel (wheel) called Ashoka Chakra. Dharmachakra is symbolised by this chakra. The Ashoka Chakra was included in India's national flag. The Ashoka Chakra features 24 spokes, each of which has a distinct meaning.
The Ashoka Pillar, for example, has the Lion-Chaturmukh (Lion Capital) of Sarnath and the Ashoka Chakra. The Ashoka Chakra was included in India's national flag. Let us see the clear answer for the most important and quite common question - What does 24 spokes of ashok chakra mean? Do you know the meaning of 24 spokes of ashok chakra?
What is an Ashoka Chakra?
The Ashoka Chakra is also known as the Duty Wheel. The 24 spokes reflect the 24 qualities that make up a human person. In other terms, they might be referred to as the 24 Dharma Margs created for mankind. All of the religious paths listed in the Ashoka Chakra will lead to progress in any country. Perhaps this is why, when our national flag was finished, the spinning wheel was removed and this Ashoka Chakra was placed in the centre of the flag.
Ashoka Chakra and 24 Spokes
The number 24 is significant in Hindu mythology, according to the Puranas and Vedas. Dharma Chakra and Samay Chakra are other names for Ashoka Chakra. The Ashoka Chakra has 24 spokes, which reflect the 24 hours of the day. It also represents the Hindu religion's 24 Dharma rishis, who were able to wield the Gayatri Mantra's full power. The 24 letters of Gayatri Mantra represent these Dharma rishis. The Vishwa Mitra Rishi is represented by the Ashok Chakra's first spoke.
The Ashoka Chakra's position in the middle of the flag is also significant. Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, attained enlightenment or Nirvana in Bodh Gaya long back. After earning nirvana, he travelled to Sarnath, which is now Varanasi. He discovered 5 disciples, or panch vargiya bhikshu, there. Lord Buddha preached the Dharma Chakra discipline to them in his discourse. King Ashoka later depicted these preachings on the Ashoka pillar, which later became the centre of the Ashoka Chakra's origin. As a result, the Ashoka Chakra is depicted in the national flag's centre. The Chakra represents the Buddhist religion's strong connections to India.
The 12 spokes represent the Lord Buddha's teachings, while the other 12 are paired with their equivalent symbols, such as Avidya (means lack of knowledge), Samskara (means shaper), Vijnana (means consciousness), Namarupa (means name and form), Sadayatana (means six senses, including ear, eye, tongue, nose, body, and mind), Sparsa (which means contact), Vedana (which means pain), Trsna (which means thirst), Upadana (means grasp), Bhava (means coming to be), Jati (which means being born), Jaramarana (which means old age) and death.
What do 24 Spokes Represents?
The Dharma, or life principles, are represented by all 24 spokes of the Chakra, according to Hindu religion. Love, patience, peacefulness, Magnanimity, goodness, faithfulness, Gentleness, selflessness, self-control, self-sacrifice, truthfulness, righteousness, justice, mercy, gratefulness, humility, empathy, sympathy, moral values, spiritual wisdom, spiritual knowledge, fear of God, and faith are the 24 dharmas.
Meaning of 24 Spokes
Let us now understand the meanings of the Ashoka Chakra's spokes (in the order of the wheel).
Sanyam is the first match (inspires to lead a restrained life)
Arogya was the second to speak (motivates to lead a healthy life)
Shanti in the third match (Advice to maintain peace and order in the country)
Abandoned, said the fourth (development of self-sacrifice for the country and society)
Modesty is the Fifth spoke (which is the Shilta education in personal nature)
The sixth speaker addressed the topic of services (education serve the country and society)
Kshama is the seventh matchstick (feeling of forgiveness towards human beings and creatures)
Prem is the eighth matchstick (feeling of love towards country and society)
Maitri is the ninth stick (feeling of friendship in society)
Brotherhood (promotion) is the tenth match.
Organization is the eleventh matchstick (strengthening the unity and integrity of the nation)
Kalyan (engagement in charity efforts for the country and society) is the 12th match.
Prosperity is the thirteenth match (contributing to the prosperity of the country and society)
Industry is the fourteenth match (helping in the industrial progress of the country)
Fifteenth match - Security (always ready for the country's security)
The sixteenth match: - (behave with restraint in personal life)
Samta in the seventeenth match (to establish an egalitarian society)
The eighteenth match entails (Use of wealth)
Niti won the nineteenth match (to keep allegiance to the policy of the country)
Nyaya is the 20th Spoke (talking about justice for all)
Co-working is the twenty-first match (working together)
Twenty-second is Obligation (to fulfil one's obligations)
The twenty-third match :- (not to abuse the rights)
Wisdom (to improve one's own intellect for the country's success) is the twenty-fourth match.
As a result, you can see that each match in the Ashoka Chakra has its own meaning. All of the sticks are talking about the country's and society's overall progress. Along with sending the message to all countrymen about their rights and responsibilities, it also tells us to put aside our differences in colour, shape, caste, and religion and unite the entire country in the thread of unity in order to bring the country to its peak of prosperity. It should be carried out with continuous efforts.
History of Ashoka Chakra
In the 3rd century BC, the Great Ashoka was the first monarch to bring the dynasty united politically. He symbolized the Dharmaraja "the King of Religion" in his dynasty, the Maurya. In a general context, his rule included the Persian empire, which dominated the western sections of India, and he had closer connections to the west. Many edicts relating to monarch Ashoka have been discovered in various parts of India, inscribed on stone in two languages, and outlining the laws of governing system of dynasty of unified territory of culture and cast. As a result of Ashoka's importance as an uniting figure in India's modern development, the "Wheel of Ashoka" was adopted as the central symbol of the Indian flag.
Significance of Ashoka Chakra’s Color in the Indian Flag
The Tiranga, or tricolour, of India features three horizontal bands of saffron, white, and green, with a blue wheel embossed in the centre. It was adopted on July 24, 1947, following India's independence from the British, as a symbol of nationalism and freedom, and it is totally made of Khadi, or domestically spun Indian cotton.
The Ashoka Chakra's navy blue colour, which is placed in the centre of the white strip of the National Flag, depicts the colour of the sky and ocean, which represents universal truth. The Ashoka Chakra, a circular symbol in the middle of the flag, represents the wheel of the dharma, the cosmic law that maintains the universe's order. Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism all subscribe to the concept of the dharma at the crux of their faiths.
In this way, the flag speaks to many of India's religious traditions, but not all of them. Furthermore, the wheel represents motion, telling India that it cannot resist change, as progress is the key to national success in a rapidly modernising world. It is inspired by the Sarnath inscription of renowned Indian ruler Ashok Mahan.
FAQs on Meaning of the 24 spokes of Ashok Chakra
1. Give the other name of Ashoka Chakra?
The Ashoka Chakra is also known as the 'wheel of the Dhamma,' or natural law. The 12 spokes of the Dhamma-wheel represent the 12 stages of suffering, starting with Ignorance (Avijja) and ending with Suffering (Dukkha). The following 12 spokes represent the journey from dukkha (suffering) to Nibbana (enlightenment) (freedom from cycle of birth and death). The aim of Nibbana is to achieve Buddhahood.
2. Give the meaning of Tricolour and Ashoka Chakra of Indian Flag?
Colours of the Flag
The top band of India's national flag is saffron-colored, symbolising the country's strength and courage. With Dharma Chakra, the white centre band represents peace and truth. The last band, which is green in colour, represents the land's fertility, growth, and auspiciousness.
The Chakra
The "wheel of the law" was symbolised in this Dharma Chakra in the Sarnath Lion Capital, which was built by Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC. The chakra is meant to demonstrate that life is located in movement and death is found in stagnation.
3. How is the Indian Flag code divided?
On January 26, 2002, the Indian flag code was changed, allowing citizens to fly the Indian flag above their homes, offices, and factories on any day, not only national holidays, as was previously the case. Indians can now proudly display the national flag wherever and whenever they wish, as long as the Flag Code is followed in order to avoid any disrespect to the tricolour.
The Flag Code of India, 2002, has been divided into three parts for your convenience. The National Flag is defined in general in Part I of the Code. The display of the National Flag by members of the public, private organisations, educational institutions, and other organizations is addressed in Part II of the Code. According to Part III of the Code, the National Flag is displayed by the federal and state governments, as well as their organisations and agencies.
4. Why is Ashok Chakra in Navy Blue?
The Ashoka Chakra's navy blue colour, which is placed in the centre of the white strip of the National Flag, represents the colour of the sky and ocean, which represents universal truth.
