Tibetan Wind Horse Prayer Flags What to know before you hang them up.

Those beautiful Tibetan prayer flags that we all admire, and many of us have hung around our homes, work or better yet waving freely on a mountain some where have a much deeper purpose and meaning than you may know. Everything about these flags has meaning the color, the words and the gesture and thoughts behind them when hung and when they are hung.  The Horizontal prayer flag is called Lung ta which means Wind Horse and Is the most prevalent. The Wind Horse flags bless the elements that touch the mantras then all who feel the wind, man, beast and insect alike are purified of their negative Karma and will carry your consciousness to a higher plain of existence. When it rains the water that rolls off the flags blesses the creatures of the earth and liberates the from the lower realms.

The Wind Horse

The Wind Horse flag contains a powerful horse (lung ta) that has three flaming jewels on its back that represent Buddha, Dharma (Buddhist teachings) and Sangha Buddhist community. The horse symbolizes Strength and speed and transforms bad fortune to good fortune. In each corner of the flag surrounding the Wind Horse are four powerful animals or Dignities, they are the Dragon, Tiger, Garuda, and the Snow Lion.

The Mantra and Colors

“om mani padme hum”

“Thus the six syllables, om mani padme hum, mean that independence on the practice of a path which is an indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech, and mind into the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha.

 ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’   

Om- The sacred syllable 

Mani- Jewel

Padme – Lotus

              Hum – Spirit of enlightenment             

The Five colors / elements

 Blue – Sky / Wind   

 White – Air / Clouds 

Red – Fire

Green – Water

Yellow – Earth

When to Hang Prayer Flags

There are several factors of when its best to hang the flags. The dates and days. Inauspicious days, dates that are NOT good days to raise the flags and Auspicious days when its best to raise the flags.  Holiness the Dalai Lama Would say its most important to have good intent and express love when placing your flag.

There are specific Auspicious dates (see an online Tibetan Calendar)

As a rule of thumb Chinese New Year, on a Full or New Moon, on a Monday or Friday. When you hang your flags on Auspicious days the effect will be multiplied. Good tidings and Health are bestowed upon those who hang these flags.

What else you should know

• The Flags should not be still, they should have the wind pass through them and carry the thoughts and prayers
• Its best to give the flags as a gift, share your happiness with those around you.
• There are vertical (Dar Cho) and horizontal (Lung Dar) Flags
• Never let the flags touch the ground
• Let the flags wear over time Hang new flags next to old doing so represents we are mortal like the flags and there is a constant cycle of birth and death
• Do not take flags apart
• If you must dispose. Burn them and let the smoke and carry the blessings to heaven. Do NOT let the flags touch the ground while     

We are going to feature more articles on other aspects of these flags. Please leave a comment if you have something to add. Peace. 

Authentic Prayer Flags from Lhasa Tibet NOW available