Indian Library Flag

The Library Flag is in the Sky- Blue colour. It contains the Library Emblem in a circular design with the aphorism "NAHI GNANENA SADRISAM PAVITRAMIHA VIDYATE" (from the Sacred Bhagvadagita) inscribed in the top area and its telugu version is "GNANA TULYA PAVITRAMI JAGATILEDU" in the lower area . Inside the design at the bottom there is a figure of a palm leaf book above that the figure of an open paper book, and over that the figure of a Banyan tree with wide profusion of branches with thick green foilage all round and prop roots going down into the ground. Thus this emblem of Library Flag and for general use has a great and deep significance. SKY is Endless - so the sky blue colour of the Flag denotes the endless progress of Knowledge. Ocean is also blue therefore the blue colour may be reminiscent of Ocean also and thereby denote the unfathomable depth of knowledge. This is also a traditonally approved association of ideas. Knowledge undergoes changes in its form under influence of certain conditions. Just as the essential reality is indestructible, despite its multifarious changing forms, the essential real core of knowledge is changeless inspite off its many superficial changes. This is also signified by the blue colour of the Library Flag. Knowledge is of Two kinds, one is Spiritual Knowledge and the second Material knowledge. The spiritual knowledge is Supermundane and the Material Knowledge is Mundane. the palm leaf book in the design of the Emblem signifies the Spiritual Knowledge of it represents spiritual love of all the important age old religions of the world. As the paper book is the later evolution of the old Palm leaf book. The figure of the paper book in the Emblem represents the love of Material Knowledge which came to light later than the Spiritual Knowledge. Library is a Growing Organism Banyan tree has a special significance in Indian Philosophy. Srimanarayana the primary deity of the Hindu pantheon is known to use the Banyan leaf as his couch. Sri Medha dakshinamurthy, as incarnation of the knowledge aspect of lord Paramasiva is said to have sat in the form of Yough at the foot of a Banyan tree and taught the highest knowledge "Parabramatatva" through mute commentaries and removed their doubts Buddha quenched his thirst for knowldege at the foot of Bodhi Tree. It is also said that the shade of Banyan tree is warm in Winter and Cool in Summer. Keeping this in view the figure of the Banyan tree is incluede in the Emblem to denote that the Spiritual and Material lores of Knowledge have taken their mature incarnation in the shapes of a tree. Banyan tree sucks the substance from the soil and not only through primary roots but also through its many prop roots. This is intended to signify that knowledge has to be obtained from several sources through several means. The tree gives shelter in its shade to all people without any regard to the difference in caste, creed or colour. In the same manner knowledge does go to all people irrespective of their differences. The ultimate goal of man is to reach God. This can be had only through the highest knowledge and that knowledge (GNANA) can be earned through books therefore proffering of knowledge is the ultimate end of books. There can be nothing else as sacred and reverence worthy as knowledge.

By - K.S Prakasam, Anantapur in "Two Decades of Library Progress 1950-1970; Souvenir 1985, Anantapur