Proud to be a Sikkimese: Sikkim Travel, Culture & Local Heritage

This 1928 letter from Maharaja Tashi Namgyal of Sikkim is printed on the official royal letterhead , featuring the crest of the Kingdom of Sikkim at the top center. The crest includes traditional Sikkimese symbols , mythical creatures , and a crown, reflecting the monarchy’s authority and Buddhist heritage. This version of the crest was used during Sikkim’s status as a princely state under British paramountcy . In later years, the royal crest was redesigned and replaced. (PIC: from internet)

This information was provided by Tenzin C. Tashi The ‘Kham-sum-ongdu’, the coat of arms of the Namgyal dynasty melds oriental symbolism with British heraldry. The symbol of religious and political government, the ‘Kham-sum-ongdu’ literally means the conqueror of the three worlds or ‘lokas’, these being: 1. ‘Kama loka’ – the world of sensual pleasure 2. ‘Rupadhatu loka’ – the realm of the material world ... 3. ‘Arupadhatu loka’ – the spiritual world or world of formless spirits The two griffins symbolise the mythological horse of Indra as well as Tachog Balaha, one of the manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig. The twelve rings within the shield represent the ‘twelve interdependent contributories of origination of all phenomenon.’ The eight lotus petals symbolize the Eight Fold Path which is to bring peace and harmony to Sikkim. The helmet, symbolising the defensive force of our land is crested by a conch shell which depicts the propagation of Dharma in Sikkim....

This picture had always attracted me but i know very little about it..can anyone share more light on it.