Prayer Flags of the Himalayas Trivia Quiz

Answer: Nepal

One might also find them in Bhutan and elsewhere in the Himalayan region. The images and text are traditionally printed with woodblocks, and the flags are traditionally not cut but torn. It is believed that Indian monks introduced prayer flags to Tibet, Nepal and other nearby nations as they were introducing Buddhism at around 1000 B.C.

Answer: Bon

Bon existed long before Buddhism, but its teachings have been incorporated into a form of Vajrayana Buddhism (also known as Tantric Buddhism) as practiced in Tibet, although Bon remains distinct from Buddhism. A Bonpo is a follower of Bon. In ancient times, Bonpo priests originally would use the prayer flags as talismans for healing the body and the environment by balancing the elements.

Answer: Wind Horse

Tibetans typically string "Lung ta" or "Wind Horse" flags along their top edges, and then hang them on a diagonal, such as between a rock on the ground and the top of a flagpole.

"Darchor" flags are usually hung on poles planted in the ground, on rocks, or on rooftops.

Answer: Flaming jewels

The center of horizontal flag or "lung ta" contains a picture of a Wind Horse carrying three flaming jewels, which symbolize Buddhist teachings (Dharma), the Buddhist community (Sangha), and the Buddha himself. Surrounding the emblem are 400 traditional mantras, which are sounds, symbols, syllables, words, or even phrases that are believed to promote spiritual transformation.

They include writings from gurus of Vajrayana, also known as Tantric Buddhism or the Thunderbolt Way, the branch of Buddhism that predominates Tibet, Bhutan, and Nepal.

Answer: Snow lion

The national emblem of Tibet, the snow lion is a mythical beast that represents uncompromising cheerfulness and utter lack of doubt; it is the personification of joy. It cannot fly, yet its feet never touch ground, as it is always leaping from peak to peak.

The tiger in contrast always has four paws on the ground, and it represents the contentment that arises from discernment and deliberation. The garuda, a mythical eagle, represents equanimity and hope, and the dragon represents prajna, or deep wisdom from experience.

Answer: Earth = violet

Earth is represented with yellow, air with white, space with blue, and fire with red. The elements must be in balance to bring harmony to the environment and health to the individual; it's the foundation for Tibetan Traditional Medicine, which predates Buddhism.

Traditionally, one should always hang the flags in the correct order, beginning with blue on the left, followed by white, red, green, yellow, then blue again, etc.

Answer: B

Tibetan and Nepalese Buddhists believe that the winds will blow the prayers and blessings, especially of the lung ta, all through the mountains into every available space, and so the prayers will benefit everyone. In fact, the air is sanctified just from blowing across the flag, and anyone in the vicinity will prosper and grow happy. Even as the images fade from the cloth, the prayers become a permanent part of the universe.

Answer: Night-time

There are several dates that are believed to be inauspicious, such as the 10th day of the first month. Hanging flags on these days will bring bad tidings rather than blessings, so practitioners wait for astrologically auspicious days. Generally speaking, the Lunar New Year (usually in February) is the time to replace the old flags with new ones. Sunny, windy days are best for hanging; many Tibetans and Nepalese will put off hanging flags if the weather is poor. Generally speaking, flags are hung in the daytime in most cultures, and the Himalayan Buddhists are no exception.

Answer: By burning it

Just as many countries, including the USA, insist that their aging national flags be burned when they are too old to be displayed, so do Tibetans and Nepalese believe that burning is the best way to destroy their prayer flags.

Answer: False

Since China invaded Tibet in 1959, there has been a worldwide diaspora of Tibetans, including the spiritual leader, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. Many of these exiles have continued their practice of prayer flags, and the communities in which they live have adopted the custom and made it their own.

In fact, many of these exiles and their descendants have suggested that people of all religions make prayer flags with the symbolism and prayers of their faiths, in their own language, to promote peace and harmony worldwide.

The Peace Flag Project (PFP) was begun in the 2000s to facilitate the creation of such flags in as many communities as possible.