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Prayer
Flag |
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| The fluttering prayer
flags can often be found along with
piles of mani stones on rooftops,
mountain passes, river crossings,
and other sacred places. Prayer flags
are actually colorful cotton cloth
squares in white, blue, yellow, green,
and red. Woodblocks are used to decorate
the prayer flags with images, mantras,
and prayers. Usually at the center
of a prayer flag, there is an image
of the Wind Horse which bears the
Three Jewels of Buddhism. On the four
corners of the flag, are images of
Garuda, Dragon, Tiger, and Snow Lion
which are the four sacred animals
representing the four virtues of wisdom,
power, confidence, and fearless joy
respectively. Sometimes auspicious
Buddhist symbols can be found on the
edges. In the blank spaces between
the images, prayers and mantras are
printed. There are two kinds of prayer
flags, the horizontal ones called
Lungta in Tibetan and the vertical
ones called Darchor. Horizontal prayer
flags are squares connected at the
top edges with a long thread. The
less used vertical prayer flags are
usually single squares or groups of
squares sewn on poles which are planted
in the ground or on rooftops. Tibetans
believe the prayers and mantras will
be blown heavenward as offerings to
their deities and will bring benefits
to the one who hangs them, his neighborhood,
and all sentient beings, even flying
birds. However, if the flags are hung
on the wrong astrological dates, they
will bring only negative results.
And the longer it hangs, the greater
the obstacles which will arise. Old
prayer flags are replaced with new
ones annually on Tibetan New Year.
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