The Garuda clutches in its talons a scroll bearing the National Motto of Indonesia, "Bhinneka Tunggal lka" which is an Old Javanese stanza of the epic poem "Sutasoma" attributed to the 14th century poet sage of the Javanese Majapahit Empire, Empu Tantular. The text was re-desicovered by the Dutch scholar Brandes from among the many lontar manuscripts among the Dutch booty called the Lombok treasure- looted from the destroyed Lombok palace in 1894. who is said to have committed the phrase to writing for the first time.
The poem expounded a doctrine of reconciliation between the Hindu and Buddhist faiths: meaning literally literally meaning "Although diverse, both truthful to Dharma- thus there exists no duality in Truth)". This spirit of religious tolerance was an essential element in the foundation and security of the newly emerging State of Majapahit and the thusly fledgling Republic of Indonesia. It is roughly rendered, Diverse, yet united or perhaps more poetically in English: Unity in Diversity.
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