THE LOGO
While working on this website, we had temporarily used an available image in the place of a logo and did not give it much thought. One day, out of the blue, the design just began flowing in. We could probably say that the logo came to us rather than us having to even think about it.
There are various elements of Philosophy that led to this design and we wish to share it with all of you.
The Outer Circle
What does this mere round shape mean?
This, we look at as the circle of birth and death, in essence the circle of life itself. We are all stuck in the wheel of birth, death and rebirth. The utmost goal is to strive to attain Moksha and free ourselves from being reincarnated again and again. This reminds us of the following lines from Adi Sankaracharya's Bhaja Govindam:
Punarapi jananam punarapi maranam
Punarapi janani jatare shayanam
Iha samsaare bahu dusthare
Krupaya pare pahi murare
Again and again one is born, again and again one dies,
And again and again one sleeps in the mother's womb
Help me to cross,
This limitless sea of Life, Which is uncrossable my Lord
Furthermore, while talking about birth and death, we are also reminded of a couplet by one of the most celebrated Tamil poet and philosopher, Thiruvalluvar.
Urangu vadhuppolunj saakkaadu urangi
vizhippadhu polum pirappu (339, Instability)
Meaning: Death is like sleep; birth is like awaking from it
Also, this shape reminds us that all that we experience in life is because of our Karma (actions from this and previous births). The cause and effect work like a circle.
The Triangle
The three sided shape represents the many 3s of Indian Philosophy. To name a few
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3 gunas
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3 bodies
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3 diets
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3 minds
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3 fold miseries
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3 sakthis in us
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3 Karmas etc.,
Further, we also notice that the towers of Temples, Churches or Mosques are all triangular.
The Vel
The Vel is a divine spear associated with the Hindu God Murugan who is also considered the war God. "Vertivel! Veeravel!" (Victorious Vel, Courageous Vel) was a common war cry by ancient Tamil Kings and Soldiers. Vetrivel Veeravel also has references in one of the most popular Tamil Historical Novel of all times, "Ponniyin Selvan" which talks so much about the culture that prevailed in Tamil Nadu about 1000 years back.
And the Vel by itself has a Philosophical meaning. It tells that one's knowledge must be sharp as its tip, wide as the mid region and deep like its shaft.
On the creative front, in the logo we have used the Vel to also look like "AY" as in Anbe Yogam.
The Colours
The colours of the logo represent the three Gunas (qualities): White represents Sattva, red stands for Rajas and black is Tamas.