The Logo & Iconograph
The heptagonal star with crown denotes recognition and honor that combine with education, learning and
knowledge. The array of spokes radiating from the felloe define the diversity in the knowledge-disciplines
that ultimately lead to the same human wisdom.The central circle (blob) impressed with the Sarada
symbol comprises three parts; the top horizontal line & ' ' represents & 'a' i.e also the Siva; the two perpendicular strokes represent the other vowels and the Sakti and the two curved
marks flanking the symbol of Sakti represent the plough which the linguists call the &'hala'.
From this understanding the entire symbol ​ represents all the vowels and consonants or the entire
basis of what makes all the alphabets.
The symbol has also a mystical meaning as it represents Siva along with Sakti and all the Tattvas
that manifest as Creation. Traditionally, the symbol is sacred and has been used at the beginning and end
of any important writing by Kashmiri Pandits in the past. The concept of the logo, therefore, encompasses
all the sacred elements of the Kashmir Saivism and complete phonetic significance and orthographic
scheme that form the entire range of the Sarada alphabets. In combination, the two aspects represent
obeisance to the Goddess of Learning Saraswati and thus make knowledge imperishable and eternal.
The iconograph signifies the indestructible sacred tree 'Aksayavata'; rooted in the symbolic manifest of Siva- Sakti tattvas of Kashmir Saivism depicted in the expression of “om savasti ekam siddham".
Legend informs that once sage Markandeya asked Lord Narayana to display Divine Power. Obliging the sage, the Lord flooded the whole world and alone the 'Aksayavata'; could be seen above the deluge of water. Thus Markandeya received the cosmic vision of the Lord. Several other accounts of the eternal and divine aspects of the tree are well documented in the Hindu scriptures. One relates to Lord Krishna that informs us that it was on the tree of Aksayavata that he rested as a baby when earth was no longer visible during the cyclic destruction of the Creation.
Another legend states that Lord Buddha also meditated under the Aksayavata and the Bodhi tree at Gaya
is only a manifestation of this divine tree.
The icon is a multi-disciplinary scholastic expression of the concept of Aksayavata as described in the
classical Sanskrit literature and, therefore, symbolizes the cardinal objectives of learning, education and
scholarship. The iconography is also an imagery of the concepts and ideas that signify the independence
of thought, freedom of expression and strength and belief in human values.
Source: The significance of symbol has been adopted from Sir George Abraham Grierson’s exposition On The Sarada Alphabet, 1916. (Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society)
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Credit for Artwork - Navmeeta Roy & Navin Joshi