The Emblem that the Karnatak Lingayat Education Society has adopted officially is carefully designed, beautifully carved, meaningful and symbolic of the ideology that K.L.E. Society stands for. It truly reflects the Aims, Objectives and the Aspirations of the Society.
At the centre of the Emblem there is a backdrop of an ovular semi-circle below which the words- Truth, Love, Service and Sacrifice are inscribed prominently. Above these words, in a specific spot, two intersecting equilateral triangles (Hexagram) of religious connotation – ‘Shatsthal’ – is depicted, inside which a ‘ Flying Bird’ is drawn. At the lower portion, a figure which is sacred to the Lingayats, namely an ‘Ishtalinga’ held in the palm in a worshipping posture is represented, with a halo around it. Above the semi-circle there is the figure of the resting Sacred Bull- Nandi.
All these representations are of a marked significance. The Sacred Bull, the vehicle of Lord Shiva is of manifold importance for Hindus, especially South Indians. This is more so for Lingayats, who form a major community in the State of Karnataka. The majority of Lingayats are farmers, and the bullock is the backbone of cultivation. The Lingayats, therefore, treat the Sacred Bull with piety and religious fervour. The Sacred Bull in the Emblem is suggestive of the great and noble service that Lingayats have been rendering in the field of education through the K.L.E Society.
The “ Flying Bird” in the centre of the Hexagram is the symbol of awakened youth-power committed to taking up any challenge and task for the upliftment of the people, especially the farming community. Thus, the basic objective of educating the educationally disadvantaged people is fulfilled by the services that the K.L.E. Society has been rendering all through these years.
The ‘Isthtalinga’ held in the palm in a worshipping posture is suggestive of the spreading of Veershaiva religion—the religion of Lingayats—and the halo around it indicates the light of knowledge through which Veershaivas have always tried to dispel ignorance and enlighten people with a secular outlook.
The words—Truth, Love, Service and Sacrifice speak of the Values that the K.L.E. Society stands for. The word ‘Sacrifice’ found the real sense in the life and struggle of the ‘ Founding Fathers’ of the Society who actually subordinated their self-interest, their personal name and fame in the cause of education.
The K.L.E. Society, which quietly amalgamated Love, Truth, Service and Sacrifice into one educational society has rendered such an educational service in 107 years that service of this magnitude could not be rendered by others for centuries together.
In short, the Sacred Bull is symbolic of Service; the ‘Flying Bird’ of awakened youth power committed and ready to take up challenges; the Hexagram of Veershaiva Dharma with its secular outlook in the service of the people; and the ‘Istalinga’ in a palm and the Halo around it, is suggestive of the knowledge to remove ignorance of the people in fulfilment of the Veershaiva philosophy. Therefore, the idea of the Emblem is that, by the union of Dharma, Knowledge, Service and Sacrifice, the Vision of the K.L.E. Society of giving excellent educational service and sacrifice, to the people of all castes, creeds, religions and regions is totally obtained.