16 May 7 Facts You Should Know About Tibetan Prayer Flags Before Hanging Them Up

‘Om Mani Padme Hum’

Everybody must have seen colorful flags on may be Royal Enfield or any bike or back side of a car! But do you know everything in the flag right from color to the words has a deeper meaning which is inscribed on them? Yes., I got to know about these Tibetan prayer flags in my recently Leh-Ladakh trip.

If you have ever traveled to any city which is dominated by Buddhist cultures like Dharamshala, Leh or Tibet, then you will see colorful flags fluttering outside homes, temples and mountain tops. This post is going to tell you more about these Tibetan prayer flags before you tell your friend who is visiting Leh-Ladakh to get some for you., 😛

1. Each color of the flag symbolizes an element

Red – Fire
Blue – Wind
Yellow – Earth
White – Air
Green – Water

They also represent the directions as North, South, East, West and Center.

2. Deep meaning of ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’

Om – The sacred syllable
Mani – Jewel
Padme – Lotus
Hum – Spirit of enlightenment

It is said that if you chant this mantra during meditation then it can cure pride, jealousy, ignorance, greed and aggression.

3. Why They Are Put High Above The Roof

There is a reason why these prayer flags should be put high on the roof or on high mountains because they are essentially carrying our prayers via the wind to get them answered by emitting the positive spiritual vibrations.

4. Don’t Buy For Yourself

It’s always good if we receive these Tibetan prayer flags as a gift.

5. Meaning of horizontal and vertical flags

There are two kinds of prayer flags: horizontal and vertical.
Horizontal flags meaning “Wind Horse”., it can be square or rectangular shape & vertical flags means “FlagStaff”., it is a large single rectangle attached to poles.

6. Never place them on ground

It is considered as a disrespect if the flag touches the ground that’s why we hung them up at a height.

7. Color fading of these flags also has a meaning.

Fading of colors on these flags means that the prayers were carried by the breeze.