VIVEKANANDA COLLEGE, TIRUVEDAKAM

VIVEKANANDA COLLEGE, TIRUVEDAKAM

The emblem of Vivekananda College, Tiruvedakam features a shield inscribed with the motifs of a lotus, a full glowing sun, an image of a young yogi and a ‘Vajra’ or Vjrayudham’ or ‘Vajrāyudha’. The motto of the college ‘Hand Heart Head’ is inscribed on a banner placed below the shield. The emblem represents the ideal of the founder president of the college Srimath Swami Chidbhavanandaji Maharaj. The shield denotes protection, courage, heritage, authority and bravery; the sun  represents life, energy, power, positivity, illumination, light and clarity; and the yogi symbolises the youth’s service to the institution, the acharyas and the colleagues and unfolds himself as Lotus, all with a loving heart; the youth recites  Gayatri mantra three times a day, for the dawn of knowledge and wisdom on him. The ‘Vajra’ or ‘dorje’ (Tibetan) is a ritual weapon symbolising the properties of a diamond referring to indestructibility and a thunderbolt meaning irresistible force. Vajrāyudha is considered as one of the most potent weapons. Kṛṣṇa talks about Indra on three occasions in Bhagavad Gītā (Chapter X). He says, “I am Indra, among gods”; “Among elephants, I am Airāvata (Indra’s elephant vehicle)” and “Among thunderbolts, “I am vajrāyudha”. The lotus is a symbol of  purity, enlightenment, rebirth, transformation, personal growth, resilience, overcoming obstacles and divine beauty.