Prayer flags for luck, Bhutan

For centuries, prayer flags have been part of Bhutanese people's tradition, symbolising the reality and pervasiveness of their belief.

Generally, in Bhutan, prayer flags are hoisted for happiness, long life, prosperity, luck and merit and to offer karmic merit to all sentient beings. After one dies, the benefits of offering prayer flags is believed to guide the soul of the dead away from the netherworld and to prevent it from being reborn in the three lower realms (Nge Song Sum, animals, pret and life in hell) of the six life cycles: Lha (god), Lha Min (demi God), humans, animals, pret, and life in hell, according to a Buddhist scholar, Dasho Lam Sanga.

Prayer flags are raised outside homes, hung on bridges, hilltops, and places of spiritual importance. According to the scholar, there are generally three types of printed prayer flags : Lungdhar or Chudhar, Lhadhar and Mani or Baza Guru dhar which are inscribed with auspicious symbols, invocations, prayers, Ngas (mantras), prints of Buddhist protectors and enlightened beings.

"Basically, prayer flags bring good luck and merit to all sentient beings and not only to the one who raises the flags," said Dasho Lam Sanga. "However, if you look at the deeper aspect, each prayer flag in itself has a world of significance."

Source - http://www.bhutantravelportal.com/miscellaneous/prayer_flags.php

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