"Dhwaja" redirects here. For the 2018 film, see Dhwaja (film).
A Hindu flag from the temple Maa Naina Devi, Nainital, Uttarakhand, IndiaDhvaja (Victory banner) – pole design with silk scarfs, on the background the Potala Palace
Dhvaja (
romanized: Dhvaja, lit. 'flag'; Tibetan: རྒྱལ་མཚན, Wylie: rgyal-msthan) refers to the Sanskrit word for a banner or a flag. Flags are featured in the iconography, mythology, and architecture of Indian religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. They are one of the ashtamangala, the eight auspicious emblems of these religions.[1]
Hinduism
In
dhvajastambha) is often erected in front of temples or on top of their roofs.[2] These columns are regarded to symbolise the world axis,[3] and a pillar between earth and heaven.[4]
A chapter from the epic Mahabharata describes the various flags and their devices borne by the warriors of the Kurukshetra War:[5]
) to symbolize the Buddha's victory over four maras.
In its most traditional form, the victory banner is fashioned as a cylindrical ensign mounted upon a long wooden axel-pole. The top of the banner takes the form of a small white "
makara-trailed ends, from which hangs a billowing yellow or "white silk scarf'"(Sanskrit: khata
) (see top right).
As a hand-held ensign, the victory banner is an attribute of many
parasol surmounted by the wish-fulfilling gem, with four or eight makara heads at the parasol edge, supporting little silver bells (see the Jokhang Dhvaja on the left). A smaller victory banner fashioned on a beaten copper frame, hung with black silk, and surmounted by a flaming "trident" (Sanskrit: trishula) is also commonly displayed on roofs (see the dhvaja on the roof of the Potala Palace below).[6][7]Dhvaja ('victory banner'), on the roof of Jokhang
Monastery.
Five Dhvajas (Victory banners), on the roof of the
Potala
White Palace.
Dhvaja (Victory banner) - trident design with black silk, roof of the Potala Palace.
Dhvaja (Victory banner), Roof of Potala Palace.
A Dhvaja from Hinduism.
History
Dhvajas are probably depicted in
Indus Valley Civilization seals, one Indus seal depicts four men carrying variously shaped djvajas or standards[8] and later also on cast copper coins from the early historic period of the Indian Sub continent.[9]Heliodorus pillar inscription also declares the pillar to be Garudadhvaja or Garuda
standard.
Indus seal mold depicting Dhvaja like object in front of the unicorn
Jayadhvaja or triangular standard depicted on a Shunga copper cast coin, 2nd-1st century BC
,_overlooking_Potala_White_Palace.jpg)
Five Dhvajas (Victory banners), on the roof of thePotalaWhite Palace.
Dhvaja (Victory banner) - trident design with black silk, roof of the Potala Palace.
Dhvaja (Victory banner), Roof of Potala Palace.
A Dhvaja from Hinduism.
,_roof_of_Potala_White_Palace.jpg)
_3.0.svg)
Indus seal mold depicting Dhvaja like object in front of the unicorn
Jayadhvaja or triangular standard depicted on a Shunga copper cast coin, 2nd-1st century BC
Heliodorus pillar, as Garudadhvaja or Garuda standard, circa 100 BC
Shunga horseman carrying a portable dhvaja,Barhut, circa 100 BC
A Mauryan standard in Chandragupta's court.
Media related to Dhvaja at Wikimedia Commons