Did you know that the Tibetan Nuns Project’s online store sells four different types of Tibetan mantra prayer flags? Mantras are a sequence of words or syllables that are chanted, usually repetitively, as part of Tibetan Buddhist practice.

These special prayer flags are handmade and blessed by Tibetan Buddhist nuns at Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute near Dharamsala, India. Because they are handmade, sizes vary slightly, but each flag measures approximately 4″ x 5″.

Each set includes between 5 and 12 flags, depending on the mantra, with one or two syllables of the mantra per flag. The length of the sets of prayer flags also varies, depending on the mantra. The Tara and Vajra Guru sets are about 4′, the Mini Mani set is  2′ long, and the Buddha Shakyamuni mantra prayer flag set is 5′ long, with each set having about 1 1/2′ of string on each end.

Four designs of Mantra Prayer Flags

Mini Mani Mantra Prayer Flags

Om Mani Padme Hum is the six-syllable mantra of Avalokitesvara or Chenrezig in Tibetan. Tibetan Buddhists believe that saying this mantra out loud or silently to oneself invokes the powerful benevolent attention and blessings of Avalokitesvara, a bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. Even viewing the written form of the mantra is said to have the same effect. This extremely popular and well-known Tibetan mantra is often carved into stones, creating mani stones that are placed for people to see them.

Buddha Shakyamuni Mantra Prayer Flags

Om Muni Muni Maha Muniye Soha is the mantra of Buddha Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha. Also known as Siddhartha Gautama, Shakyanmuni Buddha was born in the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. The name Buddha means the “awakened” or “enlightened” one. Following his enlightenment, Shakyamuni taught a path which others can follow to be awakened to the true nature of reality and to be freed from suffering. Muni means sage and Maha means great. So the mantra means, “Om wise one, wise one, greatly wise one, wise one of the Shakyans, Hail!”

Tara Mantra Prayer Flags

These prayer flags are printed with the ancient Tibetan mantra to Tara, Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha. Tara is considered to be a Bodhisattva or Buddha of compassion, relieving us of physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering. Tara has 21 major forms, each of which has a different color and spiritual attribute, and this mantra is most associated with Green Tara. Of her 21 forms, two forms of Tara are especially loved by Tibetans – Green Tara, who is associated with abundance and enlightened activity, and White Tara, who is associated with compassion and long life.

Vajra Guru Mantra Prayer Flags

The 12-syllable mantra of Guru Padmasambhava is Om Ah Hung Benza Guru Pema Siddhi Hung. The Vajra Guru Mantra is the heart essence of Padmasambhava who is also know as Guru Rinpoche, the Precious Master. Padmasambhava was an Indian tantric master who played a major role in bringing Vajrayana Buddhism to Tibet in the eighth century and is considered as the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. This mantra is also the mantra of all the masters, buddhas, yidams, dakas, dakinis, and protectors. When you chant it, you are invoking the very embodiment of Padmasambhava.

About Tibetan Prayer Flags

You don’t have to be a Buddhist to hang prayer flags. Your motivation and intentions are key. Hang them with a wish for all beings to be free of suffering and the causes of suffering, or for a positive intention of your choice.

The five colors of Tibetan prayer flags represent the different elements:

Blue for the sky
White for the clouds
Red for space
Green for water
Yellow for earth

Prayer flags are made of block-printed fabric using traditional printing techniques going back hundreds of years. They come in various types and sizes and we have many other types of Tibetan prayer flags available in our online store here.

All our prayer flags are handmade and blessed by Tibetan Buddhist nuns in India. Your purchase of them helps to provide education, food, shelter, clothing, and basic medical care to over 900 Tibetan Buddhist nuns in India.