Buddhist Flag

Category: Buddhist Symbols

From Buddhist Encyclopedia

Buddhist Flag

• Pali :  chabbanna dhaja
• Sanskrit :  shadvarna dhvaja

The Buddhist flag was designed symbolise faith and peace (the symbolic of Buddhism), in 1880 by the Colombo Committee, comprised of Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera (Chairman), Ven. Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera, Don Carolis Hewavitharana (father of Anagarika Dharmapala), Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana (maternal grandfather of Anagarika Dharmapala), William de Abrew, Charles A. de Silva, Peter de Abrew, H. William Fernando, N. S. Fernando and Carolis Pujitha Gunawardena (Secretary). Colonel Henry Steele Olcott, an American journalist later made suggestions for modifying it, which were adopted. It was first hoisted in 1885 in Sri Lanka.

The colours of the flag represent the aura (Pali: ransi; Sanskrit: rasmi) that emanated from the body of the Buddha during the 4th. week after his Enlightenment. It was when the Buddha pondered on the dharma of the Abhidharma to the heavenly devas that aura of blue (Pali & Sanskrit: nila), yellow (Pali & Sanskrit: pita), red (Pali: lohita; Sanskrit: rohita), white (Pali: odata; Sanskrit: avadata), orange (Pali: manjettha; Sanskrit: manjistha) and a mixture of these five rays (Pali: pabhassara; Sanskrit: prabhasvara), emitted from his body. From thenceforth, during the rest of his life, the Buddha radiated these aura, whenever he wished. Sometimes he sent his luminous body with this aura to convert people.