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| Flag hoisting Sundararaja perumal temple, Madurai aninews.in |
In Indian culture, flags associated with divinity represent upliftment and positivity, raising confidence level and getting rid of ignorance. It is also a symbol of victory. In the Kurukshetra war Pandava warrior Arjuna fought the Kauravas from his chariot that carried the flag - Dhwaj with the image of god Hanuman atop. This gave him an easy assurance of victory over his enemies. It has long been held by devout Hindus that the flags installed in the holy sanctified places will not only protect the temple but the entire surrounding areas. Saffron flag is widely used in the northern states and it represents the rays of rising sun, which dispels the darkness and brings in light - a ray of hope for the troubled people.
Some gods in the Hindu pantheon have distinctive flags invariably displaying the image of their mount (Vahana). For example Vishnu - Garuda vahana, Shiva - Bull (Nandi), Ganapati - Mouse (in Tamil Munchooru), Karthikaya (Muruga) - Peacock (in Tamil Mayil), Goddess Durga- Lion.
With reference to Vishnu temple, according to legends the Garudazhwar war (Garuda flag) on the Dwajasthabam implies a celestial invitation to a galaxy of Gods, Astha Dikpalakas, Saptha Rushis, Saptha Maruttas, Pancha Bhutas and entire humanity to participate in the Brahmotsavams.
Dhwajarohanam, the ritual of temple flag-hoisting is an integral part of temple festivals and is done with religious fervor by the temple priests amidst the chanting of Vedic mantras of the templeIt is the ceremony on the first day, when a flag with an image of Garuda (the vehicle of Vishnu) or Nandi (bull - vahana of Shiva) is hoisted on the Dwajasthambha of the temple. It is a symbolic invitation to the Hindu deities to attend the festival and bless the devotees.
According to the Sanatana tradition, the flag is considered a representation of local culture and positive energy. Associated with religious events and divinity, there are some parameters that need to be followed with respect to the religious flag to be hoisted in religious functions.
Some interesting facts about hoisting of temple flag:
01.All Hindu temples - Devasthana or Devalaya that follow the norms of Agama Shastras do not have a flag atop the tower
02. But in north Indian states, on top of the temple (often called Mandir) flag is a regular feature and it flutters on all days.
03. Mandirs of northern states like Maharashtra. Madhya Pradesh, etc., have saffron flags, a legacy of the Maratha Empire.
04. In a mandir of northern states, which is different from south Indian temples, rituals are based on the Puranas and there is no archaka or temple priest in the sanctum/ sanctuary to conduct puja. Irrespective of community including woman any person can perform puja in the sanctum, but he must be clean and taken morning head bath. .
05.In the south Indian temples where rituals are based on Agama or Tantric tradition, pujas are conducted only by trained priests -mostly from Brahmin community. There is no flag atop the temple spire. Instead, the specified temple flag is hoisted on a special flag pole called Dwajasthambham and flies during the festive period.
06. It has long been a temple tradition to hoist the flag during festive time on the flag-pole -Dwaja Stambha which lies on the same axis along with the temple entrance and the inner sanctuary-garbhagriha.
07. Flag-hoisting heralds the commencement of a major festival in that temple and it serves as a message for the local people about the festival.
08. The flag is hoisted before the commencement of a festival and it will be lowered on the final day of the festivity. On both occasions the ritual will be done with devotion in the midst of chanting mantras by the archagas. The flag-pole will be decorated with flowers, etc., on such special occasions.
09. It is mandatory that both flag-hoisting and lowering will be done on an auspicious day at auspicious time only by the temple priests.
10. When the temple flag is on the Dwajasthamnha, it implies the temple is in on a festive mode and the devotees must enter the sanctified place with clean mind without ego and focus their mind on the god, so that they can get rid of the negativity and baser feelings. As for the people associated with the temple, they must conduct the rituals with care and should have regular bath and completed morning ablution before entering the temple premises.
11.Temple flag should be hoisted at other time except early morning.
12. It must be accompanied by chanting of mantras and Mangala vadhyam.
13. The holy flag with divine symbol must be kept reverentially in a secluded place on the temple premises.
14. In a few temple like the Andal temple (dedicated to Vishnu) of Srivilliputhur, Tamil Nadu the divine flag will be taken around the Maada streets before flag-hoisting ceremony.
15. The kodimaram -Dwajasthambham must be properly cleaned and decorated before flag-hoisting.
16. Since Dhwajarohanam is an innovation to God, it should be done on an auspicious day and time. No compromise is made on the timing.
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| Titumala Balaji templ. Tirumalatirupatitemple.wordpress.com |
Above image: Thirumala Lord Venkateswara temple: Dwajarohanam marks the beginning of Nine day long festival; it is the first traditional religious ceremony which is being observed during the annual Salakatla brahmotsavams. Dhwajarohanam takes place normally near the Nadimi Padi Kavili inside the temple complex and the temple priests will hoist the holy Garuda flag on the flag-pole in the morning amidst mangala vaidyams and in the holy presence of utsava idols of Sri Malayappaswamy and his consorts Sri Devi and Bhudevi. As part of the Brahmotsavam the utchava murthy of lord Venkateswara - Malayappa Swamy comes out of his abode every day in the morning and evening to give darshan to his devotees on special mounts - vahanas.........
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| Madurai Meenakshi temple,.indiatimes.com |
Above image: Madurai Meenakshi temple: Chithirai festival, April 2022 began on the premises of Meenakshi Amman temple amid a sea of devotees. The ‘kodimaram’ (flag-pole) venue was decorated beautifully with flowers....
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| Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram thehindu.com |
Above image: The holy temple flag was hoisted at the Ambal Sannidhi in Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram before the beginning of the annual Adi Thirukalyanam celebrations - a six day event . The priests would conduct special pujas and aarathis daily during the celebrations for the presiding deities Ramanathaswamy and Parvathavardhini Ambal respectively......
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| Thandayathapani temple, palanu, TN .palani.in |
Above image: The annual Palani Thaipoosam (January) Flag Hoisting at the popular Palani Murugan Temple dedicated to Dhandayathapani swamy.......
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| Andal Temple,Srivilliputhur, TN. thehindu.com |
Above image: Srivilliputhur Andal temple: The annual (march) 10-day-long festival of celestial wedding of Goddess Andal with Lord Rengamannar (Vishnu) will begin with the hoisting of temple flag. This event takes place on on the occasion of ‘Uthiram’ of Tamil month Pangun......i.
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-significance-of-a-flag-in-front-of-a-temple-or-other-sacred-place
https://www.quora.com/Which-temples-in-India-performs-tantric-practices/answer/Rami-Sivan?ch
https://www.newsncr.com/knowledge-utility/hindu-flag-significance-why-is-the-flag-mounted-on-the-temple-and-what-is-the-rule-to-put-it-in-the-house
https://tirumalatirupatitemple.wordpress.com/2012/09/20/first-day-dhwajarohanam
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