The
fluttering prayer flags can often be
found on the mountain passes or on top
of hills. Tibetans Buddhism practioners
believe the prayers and mantras will
be blown heavenward as offerings to
their deities and will bring benefit
to all. Old prayer flags are replaced
with new ones annually on Tibetan New
Year.The best time to put up new prayer
flags are in the mornings on sunny,
windy days. Sets of five coloured flags
should be put in the order: yellow,
green, red, white, blue from left to
right. The colours represent the five
Buddha families and the five elements.
Blue = Akshobhya Buddha and space.
White = Ratna Sambhava Buddha and water.
Red = Amitabha Buddha and fire
Green = Amoghasiddhi Buddha and air.
Yellow= Vairocana Buddha and earth.
According to Eastern medicine, health
and harmony are produced through the
balance of the five elements. Symbols
and mantras on prayer flags are sacred
and is to be treated with respect. They
are not be placed on floors or used
in clothing. Old prayer flags should
be burned.
Wind Horse (Lung- ta) flags are by far
the most common prayer flag. This flag
brings the good fortune. The wind horse,
usually in pictorial form, always occupies
the centre of this flag. The four corners
of the flag are always guarded by the
four great animals: Garuda, Dragon,
Tiger and Snow lion. The texts on the
flags differ; usually a collection of
various mantras or a short sutra. The
Victory Banner Sutra (Gyaltsen Semo)
is the most popular.
Health and Longevity Flags usually have
a short version of the Buddha’s Long
Life Sutra along with prayers and mantras
for health and long life. Amitayus,
the Buddha of Limitless Life is often
in the center of the flag. Two other
long life Deities, White Tara (peace
and health) and Vijaya (victorious protection)
are sometimes included.
The Wish Fulfilling Prayer (Sampa Lhundrup)
is a powerful protection prayer written
by Guru Padmasambhava. It is said to
be especially relevant to our modern
age and is good for raising one’s fortune,
protecting against war, famine, and
natural disasters, as well as overcoming
obstacles and quickly attaining ones
wishes. These flags often have Guru
Rinpoche in the center and repetitions
of his powerful mantra OM AH HUNG VAJRA
GURU PADMA SIDDHI HUNG.
Praise to the 21 Taras was composed
by the Buddha Akshobhya. It was written
into Sanskrit by Vajrabushan Archarya
and translated into Tibetan by Atisha
in the 11th century. The first 21 Tara
prayer flags are attributed to him.
Tara was born from the compassionate
tears of Avalokiteshvara. As he shed
tears for the countless suffering beings
one tear transformed into the Green
Tara who then manifested her twenty
other forms. The flags with this prayer
usually depict Green Tara in the center
and often conclude with her root mantra
OM TARE TUTARE TURE SOHA. The purpose
of this flag is to spread compassionate
blessings. |
