Dadar (The Arrow Banner)

The Arrow banner is a holy item in the history of Tibetan culture, and it symbolises an object of all favourable circumstances. The tip of the arrow, made with bamboo grown in sacred places, is wrapped with five coloured ribbons which represent the five great victories in subduing the five mental poisons.

The five coloured ribbons also symbolise the five types of Dakinis and the prosperity of one’s dynasty. There are three letters on the waist of the arrow which represents the three long life deities (White Tara, Amitayus and Namgyalma) and the longevity of one’s life span. The blue ribbons displayed facing towards the sky symbolises power and dignitaries, and the white and maroon feathers symbolise the hero and heroine (the courageous male and female) representing success in all temporary and ultimate wishes.

The arrow’s sharpness signifies bravery of life and life’s stability, and the sharpness of the hook represents the accomplishment of the four activities with the accompany of Dharma protectors and deities. A silver mirror that hangs on the arrow represents the nine astrological diagrams, eight trigrams, and the twelve zodiac signs. The arrow adorned with crystal, turquoise and shell symbolise inseparable blessing of gods, nagas and spirits, and the prosperity of food and wealth. The variety of precious jewels also symbolise the sustainability of freshness, nutritious and quintessence of the four elements, etc.

The arrow also symbolises the Arrow of Long Life and Prosperity, the God’s Arrow of the Courageous Dakini, the Guru’s Arrow of Dharma Protection and the Arrow of Reliability which surrounds the God-Warrior and the abundance of joy and happiness through the establishment of power and virtue.

Dharma friends who have their own Dadar are encouraged to bring their Dadar during certain pujas so as to capture the positive essence created during such prayers, and to thereafter bring the blessed Dadar home, along with the auspicious conditions caught by the Dadar. An example of such occasions would be pujas carried out on the eve of the Lunar New Year, taking us into the New Year with all auspicious conditions.