Buddhist prayers flags are inscribed with auspicious and sacred emblems, symbols and texts in the forms of invocations, mantras and sutras. Prayers flags are traditionally hand made in Bhutan and are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, blessing for wish-fulfillment, harmony and wisdom. The mantras on prayer flags will be blown by the wind to spread the goodwill and compassion into all pervading space.
Prayer flags are made out of five colors where each color represents five elements.
- Yellow represents earth
- Blue represents sky/space
- White represents air/wind/cloud
- Red represents fire
- Green represents water
On the spiritual level these five color represents the five wisdom of Buddha, the five Buddha families, the five meditating Buddhas and the five directions. Prayer flags are considered holy, and should be treated with respect. When raising or hanging prayer flags, it is important to keep in mind this saying: “May all sentient beings everywhere receive benefit and find happiness.”
Bhutan Prayer Flags Color Meaning;
- The white prayer flag is for good fortune by purifying negative karma
- The blue prayer flag is for health and longevity.
- The yellow prayer flag is for victory over obstacles.
- The red prayer flag is for fulfilling your wishes.
- The green prayer flag is for compassion.
There are several types of prayer flags in Bhutan. Lungdhar are square or rectangular in shape, made of the five colors, are connected along their top edges to a long string or thread, and hung horizontally or diagonally between two objects in high places like top temples, monasteries and mountain passes. In the center of each flag a prevalent symbol is printed, the Wind Horse (Lungta), this is a horse that carries on its back the wish-fulfilling jewel of enlightenment.
Lhadhar, the largest flag, are also very tall vertical flags. It is hoisted at the entrance of important establishments in Bhutan. Literally known as the flag of gods, it is a tall flag measuring some 50 meters with a white cloth on it. The lhadar marks the status of the house and only buildings containing the sixteen volume sacred scriptures on perfection of wisdom are entitled to hoist a lhadar at their entrance.
They are white in color; usually have no text, and colored ribbons like red, yellow, white, green and blue are sewn to the main white cloth horizontally. The five colors represent the five elements and the five wisdoms of the Buddha. The cloth attached from about 2 metres above the ground and up to 01 metre before the tip of the pole.
The top part of the flag is adorned with wooden plate which represents the wheel of dharma. Above the wheel is a wooden design of a lotus seat, sun disk, crescent moon and the flaming wisdom sword. This is often painted in different colors.
However, the lhadar poles near important establishments have a full victory banner made of bronze, or copper and plated with golden color in place of the wooden designs. Today, the wooden flags pole is being replaced by strong steel or aluminum poles which need not be replaced annually.
Goendhar, the smallest prayer flags, are located in the middle of a rooftop of a home. Rectangular in shape, they are white with ribbons of white, green, red, yellow, and blue attached to the edges. These flags are blessings for welfare, prosperity, and harmony in the family.
Very tall white prayer flags, Manidhar, are also vertical and attached to poles. They are raised on behalf of a deceased person, as a way of remembering the person who died. It is believed that there are benefits from hoisting batches of 108 (an auspicious number) of Manidhar prayer flags. Although, hoisting one flag is just as beneficial.
