The Meaning and Construction of Tibetan Prayer Flags
History and Use of Tibetan Prayer Flags revised by Karma Thinley Dorje at FourGates, 4/19//2003.
Tibetan Pray flags are known as “Lungta” among the Tibetan, which means Wind Horse, if we translate it literately.
Prayer flags are meant to be placed outdoors by stringing or attaching them to the edge of a roof, between poles, on temples, between tress, and other places. By doing so it gives the wind the opportunity to move them. The wind is considered an expression of our minds, and the mental energy which activates them. When you see them your intention to pray for, and work for the welfare of others is rekindled. Thus, the wind like the mind, carries the blessings throughout the countryside, and across the world.
Prayer flags are an expression of the Bodhisattva's (Bodhisattva means enlightened savior or servant) intention to pray for, and offer ones good karmic merit for the welfare of sentient beings. Both horizontal and vertical pray flags (which we are using) have the Ghachenchemoh mantra content scripts on them.
The literate translation of Ghachenchemoh is the “highest umbrella,” which actually intends to express protection provided to its followers in the same way when a person offers an umbrella protecting him from rain. In this case, the umbrella is enlightened prayer. The mantra speaks in favor of the goodness for every living existence in this world. The literal translation says: “every living being should have a fearless life, pain-less life, misery-less life, knowledgeable life, healthy life, successful life, achievement-oriented life and rich life.”
The mantra speaks in favor for the all the lives in this world without exception. This includes sentient beings of all types including animals and insects life. The visual expressions used on these pray flags are:
-Flying Horse symbolizes accomplishment of positive works in a most suitable and instant way.
-Garuda eating snake which symbolizes the frighten-away of evil wills or intentions.
-Dragon symbolizes the removal of different threats from the sky like thunderbolts etc.
-Tigers symbolizes the success in each step of life without any huddles, and
-Lions symbolizes being a front-runner in each step of life.
Ghachenchemoh mantra pray flags are raised by the followers to bring success in their work and to drive-away the unwanted faith and accidents in a life. The five-different colors of Pray flags represents the five different postures of Buddha also known as Pancha Buddha's or Buddha Families:
-Blue symbolizes Akshobhya Buddha and represents Space.
-White symbolizes Ratna Sambhava Buddha and represents Water.
-Red symbolizes Amitabha Buddha and represents Fire.
-Green symbolizes Amoghasiddhi Buddha and represents Air.
-Yellow symbolizes Vairocana Buddha and represents Earth.
May all beings benefit from the activity of our continued blessings for all beings.
If you giving them as a gift to someone you may be confident that they are not supposed to be made with "perfect edges", and this does not reflect on the product being flawed in some way.
The primary purpose of the Prayer Flags is to be hung out doors where the wind can activate the blessings. The sun, wind and rain will fade they or wear the Flags out over time. This is normal and provides a subtle reminder that all things are impermanent or temporary. This type of auspicious flags are given to as a blessing to married people, funerals, dignitaries, special fits and even to business people around the world. To some people in the western countries unfamiliar with the Prayer flag tradition, they may at first seem a bit folksy, or humble looking. But, there is real power in activating the hearts and minds of people for blessing the world.
We are proud to offer the spiritual handicrafts of the Tibetans, Nepalese and Himalayan cultures which express the power of enlightened thinking about building a higher quality world through right thinking and action.
In addition to Prayer Flags, cultivate and learn to use a
Prayer Wheel for increasing daily blessings in your life. It is said to increase positive karma hundreds and thousands of times. It is no more difficult than turning the wheel while repeating your prayers. How much more easily can one create a positive and happy life.
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