We are sometimes asked about the meaning of windhorse Tibetan prayer flags. The windhorse is a sacred mythical creature in Tibetan culture, believed to carry prayers to the heavenly realm using the strength and speed of the wind.
Lungta (Tib: རླུངྲ་) means air or wind, and ta (རྟ་) is horse. So, Lung-ta means an air-horse or windhorse. Lungta, or windhorse, is a sacred symbol in Tibetan culture. It is believed to raise a person’s energy and carry prayers and intentions to the divine. When travelling through Tibetan settlements or Himalayan villages, you will often see colorful prayer flags hanging on rooftops, trees, bridges, and mountain ridges.
Different types of prayer flags hanging in the breeze. Different types of prayer flags hanging in the breeze. Lungta in Tibetan ( རླུང་རྟ) is translated to “windhorse”. The first Tibetan syllable “lung” རླུང represents the element “wind” or “air” in the five elements of “earth, water, fire, air, and space”. The second syllable “ta” རྟ means horse.
In Tibetan Buddhism, many actions are done with spiritual meaning, and religious items are often blessed before use. Hanging Lungta, or prayer flags, is an important tradition. Tibetan Buddhists hang Lungta flags after they have been blessed by lamas or at monasteries. Once the flags receive these blessings, they are believed to be spiritually empowered and ready to be hung.
A Tibetan Buddhist nuns hangs new prayer flags at Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute. It is traditional to hang new prayer flags at Losar or Tibetan New Year. Photo courtesy of Olivier Adam.
After an object is blessed and the ritual is completed, it is important to handle it respectfully — for example, keeping it in a safe and clean place and using it appropriately. Likewise, the Tibetan prayer flags we sell here through our online store are all made by nuns and have already undergone the necessary rituals and blessings. When placed outdoors such as on rooftops, mountain passes, or sacred sites, the wind carries the prayers and mantras printed on the flags, spreading blessings, compassion, peace, and good fortune to all beings.
Meaning of the Symbols on Windhorse Prayer Flags
Here’s a detailed photo of one of the windhorse (Lungta) prayer flags made by the nuns, showing the prayers and sacred symbols. The Lungta or windhorse is in the center, surrounded by mantras. In the corners are the four auspicious animals, and, at the sides, are the eight auspicious Buddhist symbols.
The central image on the prayer flag is the windhorse, symbolizing good fortune, luck, and the power to influence events. It is depicted carrying a wish-fulfilling jewel on its back.
In the four corners of each prayer flag are the Four Auspicious Animals. Clockwise from the upper left, they are the Garuda (upper left), Dragon (upper right), Snow Lion (bottom right), and Tiger (bottom left).
A Tibetan Buddhist nun makes prayer flags at Dolma Ling Nunnery. All the prayer flags sold in our online store are made and blessed by nuns in India.
These “Four Auspicious Animals” are also called the Four Mythical Creatures, the Four Guardians, the Four Gods, or the Four Dignities in Buddhist mythology. In Buddhism, these four guardian animals symbolize the overcoming of birth, old age, sickness, and death. They are also known as the guardians of the four cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west.
These sacred mythical animals also represent the qualities and attitudes that bodhisattvas develop on the path to enlightenment — qualities such as awareness, vast vision, confidence, joy, humility, and power.
The Meaning of the Four Auspicious Animals in Buddhism
GARUDA: The Garuda is an enormous, mythical bird of prey that represents fearlessness, power, and wisdom. Known for its ability to soar to great heights, it symbolizes the mind’s ability to rise above worldly concerns and attain spiritual liberation. It is believed to be able to subdue nagas (serpent spirits), representing the victory of wisdom over ignorance. It represents the north in the four cardinal directions.
DRAGON: The thunder dragon, also known as druk (འབྲུག) in Tibetan and Bhutanese mythology, is the national symbol of Bhutan and is depicted on the Bhutanese flag. The dragon was adopted as an emblem by the Drukpa Lineage, which originated in Tibet and spread to Bhutan. Tibetan dragons are used on prayer flags, carpets, furniture, thangkas, and to decorate temple gates and roofs. They are believed to bring enlightenment. elegance, generosity, calmness, and achievements.
The Tibetan flag with the pair of snow lions. The snow lion is the emblem of Tibet and is one of the Four Auspiciaous Animals on the corners of the windhorse prayer flag.
SNOW LION: The snow lion (གངས་སེང་གེ་) is the emblem of Tibet, and a pair of snow lions is on the national flag of Tibet. The snow lion represents both the snowy mountain ranges and glaciers of Tibet and also symbolizes fearlessness and joy, power and strength, the direction east, and the earth element. The lion’s roar embodies the sound of “emptiness” (Sanskrit: Śūnyatā), courage and truth, and this is often a synonym for the Buddhadharma, the Buddha’s teachings and the challenging call to awakening.
TIGER: The tiger may represent power, confidence, discipline, and modesty. In Tibetan Buddhist culture, the tiger is often associated with the famous Buddhist saint, Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), who is believed to have subdued the local deities and demons, bringing Buddhism to the region. The tiger represents the earthly realm and the fierce determination needed to overcome obstacles on the spiritual path.
What are the Prayers on the Prayer Flags?
At the center of a Lungta is the windhorse carrying three flaming jewels on its back. The horse represents strength, energy, and the ability to turn misfortune into good fortune. The three jewels represent the Buddha, the Dharma (the teachings), and the Sangha (the Buddhist community), which are the three main pillars of Tibetan Buddhism.
The mantra Om Mani Padme Hum in Tibetan.
At the top of the prayer flag, in an archaic script, it says OM MANI PADME HUM. This is the primary mantra of Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha and Bodhisattva of compassion. It is recited by Tibetans everywhere, and may be loosely translated as “Om, the Jewel in the Lotus, HUM.”
Around the central symbol of the windhorse or lungta are traditional mantras. Tibetan prayer flags vary, but the mantras used are one of the hundreds recited by the three Bodhisattvas or Gurus — Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche, Chenrezig, the embodiment of compassion, or Manjusri, known for transcendent wisdom. The oldest and most popular Buddhist mantra on the flags is Om Mani Padme Hum. Here’s a blog post in which His Holiness the Dalai Lama explains the deep meaning of Om Mani Padme Hum.
Tibetan prayer flags flutter in the wind at a mountain pass. Each of the five colors has a specific meaning and represents an element.
The Meaning of the Colors of Prayer Flags
Tibetan prayer flags come in sets of five, with one flag in each of the five colors. The colors from left to right are in this specific order: blue, white, red, green, and yellow. Each color has a meaning and represents an element.
According to Traditional Tibetan medicine, health and harmony are produced through the balance of the five elements.
- Blue symbolizes the sky and space.
- White symbolizes the air and wind.
- Red symbolizes fire.
- Green symbolizes water.
- Yellow symbolizes earth.
Traditionally, prayer flags are hung from high points like mountain passes, temples, and rooftops, allowing the wind to carry the prayers far and wide.
It is traditional to hang new prayer flags at Losar, Tibetan New Year. Here a nun at Dolma Ling Nunnery removes the old weathered prayer flags and respectfully burns them. Photo courtesy of Olivier Adam.
In Tibetan Buddhism, people often choose an auspicious day or date to hang a Lungta (prayer flag). These days are selected based on the lunar calendar and traditional astrological calculations to ensure that the blessings of the flags are most effective. Hanging the flags on a favorable day is believed to increase positive energy, bring good fortune, and enhance the spiritual power of the prayers and mantras printed on the flags. Many families and communities make it a special occasion, sometimes performing small ceremonies or offerings before placing the flags outdoors.
You can order prayers flags made and blessed by the nuns here.
The hanging of prayer flags is a tradition dating back thousands of years to ancient Buddhist India and to the Bon tradition of pre-Buddhist Tibet. Tibetans hang prayer flags at mountain passes and at temples, stupas, and other sacred structures so their prayers can be released.
