Five things you should know about Tibetan prayer flags and how, why to use them (happy Lunar New year)

Today is a Lunar new year of the Pig and the new Moon. Great time to finish something old, observe your lessons and start something new. As every new beginning, it should be greeted with auspicious activities like visiting the place of higher, purer energy, doing the good or as they do in Tibet hang the prayer flags.

We have decided to visit the Tibetan monastery, and we learnt something we didn’t know about the significance of prayer flags. I never knew there is a good or not as good day to hang them, or what is the meaning of prayers and difference between them. Last year we hang one pair of them for fun at our balcony. Since we live next to the busy road we always feel like we need some wall to feel secured from the cars and noise they are making. Guess what, since the flags came up I started to have this feeling we have some invisible wall and started having my quiet evenings at the balcony. I didn’t say anything to anyone, until one day my husband came and notice the same thing. He literary said:” This flags are like some barrier from all the noise”. As we know how powerful the words are, we can only imagine the power of these prayers, written with auspicious signs and symbols, colours taken by the wind into the World!

 Every house should have them hanging around.

 Here are some facts you should know before you get them:

1.     Prayer flags of Tibet are not general flags but they are hoisted with some true intentions and beliefs.

Legend says that their origination can be traced back to Gautama Buddha. His prayers were written on the war flags. Tibetans have heard about these flags for more than two centuries but it was only after 1040 CE, that prayer flags came to be used as they are used now in Tibet. They are also used to foster peace, strength, compassion and wisdom.

2.    Meaning of the colours on the flag

Tibetans are very particular about the colour and order of putting up prayer flags. They do not follow a haphazard order while putting them up. There is a rigid tactics in putting the prayer flags in a right order. Each of the colours has a vivid meaning to preach and the order itself hints at the staunch belief embedded with the prayer flags.

Prayer flags traditionally have five sets, one in each of the five colours. The five colours are assorted from left to right maintaining a particular order. The colours used are blue, white, red, green and yellow. Each of these colours stands for an element of spiritual nature. These represent the Five Pure Lights.

Blue stands for the sky. It symbolizes the vastness of space. This colour is said to have the quality to calm down disturbed souls and help them meditate and gather wisdom. This colour symbolizes sanctity of Buddhism and meditation. White stands for the element of wind. In Buddhism, it is the colour of knowledge. This colour attempts to clarify all the curses of ignorance thus illuminating the light of knowledge.

Red symbolizes fire. It gathers life-force to sustain and survive. Green stands for the element of water. This colour is for brotherhood, peace and harmony. Yellow stands for Earth. It symbolizes renunciation. Under meditation, everything on Earth is equal irrespective of differences.

The colours on the prayer flags may also stand for the five wisdom Buddhas – the Akshobhya Buddha, Buddha Vairocana, Buddha Amitabha, Amoghasiddhi and Buddha Ratnasambhava respectively. The five colours or the “Pancha Varna” display how colours can even influence meditative aspirations. Meditating on a particular colour is also associated with Buddha and Tibetan Buddhism.

3. Symbols, Prayers and Mantras on the Tibetan Buddhist Flags.

The Tibetan Buddhist flags are often inscribed with symbols, prayers and holy mantras on it. The traditional prayer flags mainly have for its centre, the figure of Lung Ta (horizontal flag) – the powerful wind horse carrying the three flaming jewels (wish fulfilling jewel of enlightenment) on its back. The horse symbolizes speed and good fate. The jewels, however, stand for the three basic aspects of Buddhism – Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Tibetans believe that depending upon the Lung Ta being high and low, one’s fortune is decided. Therefore, flags with Lung Ta are raised to invoke good fortune in the lives of the folks in the surroundings.

The “Tashi Targye” is a group of eight symbols which are often inscribed on Tibetan prayer flags. These symbols include the parasol, treasure vase, the conch shell, golden fish, lotus, the victory banner, the endless knot and dharma wheel. All these symbols have distinct connotations and meanings.

In accompaniment of the Lung Ta, the figures of Four Dignities decorate the four corners of the flag – the sky Dragon, the Garuda, the snow lion and the tiger. The seven possessions of a monarch and the vajra may also form a part of Tibetan prayer flags.

Prayer flags hoisted by a particular person carry his message to the divine. The flag chants a deep rooted prayer for happiness, longevity, good karma and peace for the rest of the survival. It is interesting to note that when colour fades in a Tibetan flag, it is considered a good omen. This stands for the prayers being carried away thereby fading the colours.

The prayer flags are always adorned with hundreds of mantras inscribed on it. The mantras from Padmasambhava, Avalokiteshvara and Manjushri are inscribed in several versions on these flags. Tibetan flags often have a hymn written on it – “Om mani padme hum”. Om is itself holy, “mani” means jewel, “padma” means Lotus and “hum” means enlightenment. Together, it does not declare a congruous meaning but this particular hymn cleanses man of his malicious qualities thereby bestowing him with perseverance, intelligence, wisdom, compassion and renunciation. It is believed that with the wind, these mantras will be blown in the air thus spreading spirituality and goodwill in the place.

4. Traditions of Tibetan Buddhist Prayer Flags

 The Tibetans believe that by putting the flags high up in the peaks the Lung Ta will travel to spread good luck to all. The Tibetans keep on adding new flags adjacent to the old ones which is symbolic of how new life takes on the responsibility of old ones. The prayer flags, according to Buddhism, guide one towards the path of attaining Nirvana or Moksha.

Tibetan flags are of two types Lung Ta and Dar Chog. Lung Ta flags are the horizontal ones whereas the Dar Chog ones are vertical. Lung Ta flags are mainly hoisted on the top of monasteries, temples and stupas whereas the Dar Chog ones often adorn mountains and hillocks.

As the prayer flags are sacred, they should not be used for any other purposes. They should never be kept on the ground, thrown in the dustbin and your feet may never touch the flags. Tibetans believe in burning the old flags so that the smoke carries the blessings with it.

5. When to Hang and Take down the Prayer Flags in Tibet

The prayer flags are auspicious things so proper time and dates are assigned to hang and take them down. It is believed that if prayer flags are hung on days having a bad omen, they may turn fruitless. In the worst case scenario, the wrong hanging time of a flag may breed ominous results. So, Tibetans generally hoist the prayer flags in the morning.

Prayer flags are hoisted keeping in mind the speed of the wind. It is generally a good sign to put the flag up on windy days so that the mantras on these flags get the very first opportunity to roam the air. It is also important that a Lama must bless the flag before hanging it. Special days may also be selected for hanging a prayer flag like during the Tibetan New Year, 7th and 15th day of the 4th lunar month or the 4th day of the 6th lunar month.

Similarly old flags need to be replaced with the same amount of reverence with which new flags are hung. This ceremony of taking down old flags and replacing them with new ones is carried out once a year during Tibetan New Year. This festival is popularly known as Losar in Tibet. Mostly on the first day of lunisolar Tibetan calendar, this holiday is celebrated. It is on this day Tibetan old flags are taken down. As earlier stated these old flags are burned as a part of the ceremony.

Tibetans consider getting prayer flags as gifts a good sign. It is as if some divine has sent them blessings in the form of the flags. It is hope that becomes the driving force on this earth and these flags hold the hope and aspirations.

So, next time you have question or doubts in your mind, think about your prayer flag or mine, sending you an answer. Like the Bob Dylan sings:”the answer my friend is blowing in the wind”, and you just need to listen to attune with its broadcast.

Happy Lunar New year,

Julija