The Sengol sceptre is a 1.5-meter long solid gold sceptre that was presented to India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, on the eve of India’s independence from the United Kingdom in 1947. The sceptre was created by priests of the southern state of Tamil Nadu and is said to be a symbol of righteousness, justice, and prosperity.
The sceptre is made of solid gold and is decorated with intricate carvings of Hindu deities and symbols. The top of the sceptre is in the shape of a lotus flower, which is a symbol of purity and enlightenment in Hinduism. The shaft of the sceptre is decorated with images of the sun, moon, and stars, which represent the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
The sceptre was presented to Nehru by a delegation of priests from the Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. The priests said that the sceptre was a gift from the gods and that it would bring prosperity and good fortune to India.
Nehru accepted the sceptre with great humility and said that it would be a cherished symbol of India’s independence. He also said that the sceptre would remind the people of India of their rich cultural heritage and their responsibility to uphold the values of righteousness, justice, and prosperity.
The sceptre was placed on display in the Parliament House in New Delhi after India’s independence. It has been on display ever since and is a reminder of the country’s long and rich history.
The sceptre’s history is not without controversy. Some historians have argued that the sceptre was not actually created in 1947, but that it is a much older artifact. They point to the fact that the sceptre is decorated with images of Hindu deities that were not widely worshipped in the 1940s.
Other historians have argued that the sceptre is a genuine artifact, but that it was not created by priests in Tamil Nadu. They point to the fact that the sceptre is made of solid gold, which was a very expensive material in 1947. They also point to the fact that the sceptre is decorated with intricate carvings, which would have required a skilled craftsman to create.
The truth about the sceptre’s history may never be known. However, there is no doubt that it is a valuable and important artifact. The sceptre is a reminder of India’s rich cultural heritage and its long and difficult struggle for independence. It is also a symbol of the country’s hopes and dreams for the future.