In the Bhutanese culture, a prayer wheel and prayer flag is something that beautifully depicts itself as a spiritual tool that aims towards distributing love, compassion and blessings for all individuals and for the ones we care. The player wheels and flags of Bhutan are activated just as you turn them clockwise. The prayer flags and prayer wheels are extremely popular in Bhutan tourism as tourists from across the globe specially come to Bhutan to see the beautiful flags and wheels. One standing in the presence of these flags can experience utmost peace. The Bhutanese flags and prayer wheels have a magical healing power that will surely offer tranquility and comfort to anyone visiting here.
The motive why Bhutanese people turn the wheels clockwise is because they follow the sun’s movement in the sky. There are two main types of prayer wheels in Bhutan; the Mani wheels and the Lakhor prayer wheels.
The Mani prayer wheels are hand held prayer wheels that are generally used when people walk around Buddhist relics or temples. Many tourists who visit Bhutan for pilgrims carry these wheels even on long journeys. These are smaller in height and thus can be easily carried or transported from one place to another. Mostly tourists or travellers carry these types of wheels.
The Lakhor prayer wheels on the other hand are placed in buildings like monasteries and temples. Usually there are up to 108 prayer wheels in each of these temples as it is considered to be auspicious and lucky. People usually walk clockwise as they seek blessings through turning each of these wheels.
These prayer wheels are made up of different materials like wood, stone, metal or even coarse cotton. Besides rotating the wheels with bare hands, many Bhutanese prayer wheels are also powered by water through waterfalls. Other such sources are wind and heat of a candle.
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The Bhutanese prayer flags have been a part of the Bhutanese culture since many centuries. They are a crucial part of the people’s traditions here. The flags in Bhutan symbolize long life, prosperity, happiness and luck to all individuals. There is a belief in Bhutan according to which when an individual dies, the advantages of offering prayer flags are said to guide to soul of the dead away and prevent it from having a rebirth in the 3 lower realms namely; 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. There are normally three kinds of printed prayer flags: Lungdhar or Chudhar, Lhadhar and Mani or Baza Guru dhar which are engraved with positive signs, invocations and prayers.
The following are some interesting facts about Bhutanese prayer flags and prayer wheels:
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Each shade of the banner symbolizes a component
The red, blue, yellow, white and green buddhist petition banners speak to components like air, fire, water and earth. White symbolizes air, red is fire. Green is water, yellow is earth, and blue is wind. They additionally speak to headings – North, South, East, West and Center.
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‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ has a profound importance
Om-The consecrated syllable
Mani-Jewel
Padme – Lotus
Hum – Spirit of illumination
This mantra does not have one specific importance. It’s a mix of qualities like empathy, morals, persistence, industriousness, renunciation and insight. It is said that on the off chance that you recount the mantra during reflection, it can fix pride, desire, obliviousness, eagerness and hostility.
If you are planning your next trip to Bhutan, then visiting the monasteries and temples here with these beautiful flags and prayer wheels should be on your priority list of places to visit in Bhutan. Book your Bhutan tour packages and enjoy an astounding and tranquil vacation.
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Buddhist supplication banners ought to never stay composed
The motivation behind why they are put high over the rooftop is with the goal that they vacillate in the breeze. It is said that they produce positive profound vibrations and that the petitions are conveyed by the breeze like quiet supplications.
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It’s a promise of something better to get Nepal supplication signals as a blessing
Getting petition hails as blessing from somebody and not getting them is the way you ought to procure supplication banner. Hence, telling a companion who visits Leh-Ladakh to get you petition banners are the correct activity.
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They ought to never be kept on the ground
It is viewed as rude if the Buddhist supplication banners contact the ground. Thusly, they ought to consistently been hung at a stature. Around the casing of the entryway is viewed as the perfect spot to put the banners.
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Supplication Flags Vertical Bhutan
Lhadhar, the biggest banner, are additionally tall vertical banners. They are white in shading, more often than not have no content, and contain strips of red, yellow, and blue. Lhadhar are shown before significant spots, for example, religious communities and castles, and one must be officially dressed to enter these spots. Lhadhar speak to triumph over the powers of shrewdness, and are ordinarily engraved with the four incredible creatures, the tiger, the snow lion, the winged serpent, and the Garuda (a heavenly regal fledgling). These creatures are additionally on the four outside corners of a Lungdhar supplication banner, encompassing and guarding the Wind Horse.