The national emblem of India is a replica of the Lion at Sarnath, near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. The Lion Capital was erected in the third century BC by Emperor Ashoka to mark the spot where the Buddha first proclaimed his gospel of peace and emancipation. The national emblem is thus symbolic of contemporary India's reaffirmation of its ancient commitment to world peace and goodwill.It was adopted as the National Emblem of India on 26 January 1950, the day that became a republic. The four lions (one hidden from view), symbolising power, courage and confidence, rest on a circular abacus. The abacus is girded by four smaller animals, that are considered guardians of the four directions: the lion of the north, the elephant of the east, the horse of the south and the bull of the west. The abacus rests on a lotus in full bloom, exemplifying the fountainhead of life and creative inspiration. The motto 'Satyameva Jayate' inscribed below the emblem in Devanagari script means 'truth alone triumphs'.This is a quote from Mundaka Upanishad the concluding part of the sacred Hindu Vedas.
This is the famous original sandstone sculpted Lion Capital of Ashoka preserved at Sarnath Museum which was originally erected around 250 BCE atop an Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath. The angle from which this picture has been taken, minus the inverted bell-shaped lotus flower, has been adopted as the National Emblem of India showing the Horse on the left and the Bull on the right of the Ashoka Chakra in the circular base on which the four Indian lions are standing back to back. On the far side there is an Elephant and a Lion instead. The wheel "Ashoka Chakra" from its base has been placed onto the center of the National Flag of India.
The national emblem is a symbol of India in a multitude of sections:
Stamp with the national emblem. 
National emblem on passports and coins.
The national emblem is a symbol of heritage. State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005 issues a code of conduct that explains the rules and violations that must be respected.
However, the following article in the Hindu (15 Aug, 2006) shows otherwise:
HEIGHT OF APATHY: The damaged Asoka Pillar on the premises of the District and Sessions Court in Mangalore.
MANGALORE: The national emblem gains prominence only when Independence Day or Republic Day is around. The national emblem figures are given a fresh coat of paint during these days after which they are left unattended. The fate of the national emblem on the District and Sessions Court premises in the heart of the city is no exception to it.While the Lion Capital got its usual fresh coat of paint on the eve of Independence Day, the damaged, portions have been left unattended. The noses of at least two of the four lions have been damaged and workers have merely given them a fresh coat of paint. The officials come out with advisories from time to time about the need to respect the national symbols, including taking steps to ban national tricolour made of plastic on the eve of national festivals. All this is happening despite the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 2005 and the State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005 being in force.