~ Wind Horses! Tibetan Prayer Flags  ~

This auction is for a string of 25 new, medium-sized, hand-stamped, brightly-colored, 100% cotton prayer flags from Nepal, with a central Wind Horse design on each panel.  The design, size and ink density of each panel may vary a little bit from the flags displayed in the listing photos.  Each flag panel is approximately 5 1/2 inches x 4 1/4 inches, and the total length of the string a little over 12 feet.

This string consists of 5 each of the 5 Tibetan elemental colors (yellow for the earth,  green for the sea, red for fire and the spirit carrying the message, white for the clouds, and blue for the heavens), each bearing a central Wind Horse design. The flags are sewn onto a cord for you to hang outside horizontally between trees, from a rooftop, on a porch, patio, or in a garden. These flags were made in Kathmandu, Nepal.

"... traditionally, the Tibetan people believe that when the wind blows or there is a draft that causes the flags to move, the messages or prayers are read by the wind and carried up to the heavens.  As they weather, the strands of the flags flying into the wind symbolizes prayers being answered.  People often write their names or write the names of the people they are praying for directly on the flags ..."

The following was excerpted from The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs by Robert Beer (Shambhala Press, 1999):

"Wind is the natural element of the horse. As it gallops across the plain the wind arises to meet it, its long tail and mane flowing freely as it speeds through the stillness of the air, creating wind. Both the wind and the horse are natural vehicles of movement, the horse carrying material form and the wind ethereal form. Prayers are carried on the wind, and in Tibet the prayer flag is known as the Windhorse, Lung Ta, in Tibetan."

This is from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia:

" ... Prayer flags are attached to cords and hung so they may flutter in the wind. The movement is believed to "activate the power of the mantras and bestow protection and merit." The flags are commonly known in Tibet as "dar cho": dar meaning to increase in life, fortune, health and wealth, and cho meaning all sentient beings.

Many different prayers may be printed on a single flag, including 'Om Tara tu Tara ture soha' (a request for speedy compassion from Green Tara), 'Om ha hung vajra guru padme sidi hung' (a strengthening prayer), or the famous and sublime 'Om mani padme hum'.

The best time to put up new prayer flags are in the mornings on sunny, windy days.

Sets of five coloured flags should be put in the order:  yellow, green, red, white, blue from left to right. The colours represent the five Buddha families and the five elements. Blue represents Akshobhya Buddha and space, white represents Ratna Sambhava Buddha and water, red represents Amitabha Buddha and fire, green represents Amoghasiddhi Buddha, air and wind, and yellow represents Vairocana Buddha and earth ..."

Payment Info: I prefer payment via PayPal - it's fast and secure!  Shipping is $3.50 to the USA and Canada for this set of prayer flags, and .50 for each additional auction win and/or store purchase. Will ship worldwide.

Thank you for viewing this listing!

         

 

After purchasing, pay instantly with your credit card through PayPal!