The Fluttering Flags & Spinning Wheels- all about Prayers Flags and Prayer Wheels

 

Most of us travel junkies must have traveled to some place, where we have seen those colored flags embracing the air and fluttering. It, in itself is a beautiful sight pleasing the eyes, isn’t it?

The all colored flags

Ever wandered what do they actually signify? Well so far in my exploration to 3 such destinations I have learnt a few things about them and also managed to capture a few pictures.

Prominent use of 5 colors in prayer plags

These colored flags are seen in almost any of the Himalayan destinations. They are called prayer flags and are of 2 types. The vertical ones are called Darchor and horizontal ones are called Lungta. Lungta is the popular colored flag which is often seen. They consist of 5 colors, and each color signifies some element of nature:

White- Air

Blue-  Sky

Yellow- Earth

Green- Water

Red- Fire

The 4 sacred animals on a prayer flag

Also 4 animals are often noticed on these flags namely dragon, garuda, tiger and a snow lion. These animals represents various aspects of Bodhisattva attitude. These flags have different kinds of prayers inscribed on it. The more they flutter the more they create spiritual vibrations, as believed. The flowing winds that touches these prayer flags spread peace, wisdom, compassion and happiness. No wonder the small Buddhist country of Bhutan believes in Gross National Happiness more than Gross Domestic Product.

Along with these prayer flags, we can also find prayer wheels, placed a long way in the monasteries. These wheels also have prayers inscribed in them and it is believed that spinning these wheels in a clockwise direction lets the prayer flow in the air and serve the same purpose.

 

Prayer wheels in a monastery in Bhutan

Inscribed Prayers in a Prayer wheel

A Giant prayer wheel

Prayer wheels made of Pet Bottles

One rotation of the wheel is equivalent to chanting the mantra one time. These wheels also have inscribed the mantra of “Om Mani Pad Me Hung”, the meaning of which I would leave for the readers to explore or probably cover in my next wandering story to some other Buddhist destination.