This is a list of historical and modern flags used by the Tamil people.

Modern Tamil flags

Indian Tamil flags

Name Image Description
Banner of the Government of Tamil Nadu The banner of the Government of Tamil Nadu depicts the Emblem of Tamil Nadu displayed on a white field. The emblem consists of the National Emblem of India flanked on either side by an Indian flag. Behind the national emblem, is the image of a Gopuram tower based on the West Tower of Srivilliputhur Andal Temple.

Sri Lankan Tamil flags

Name Image Description
Sri Lankan Tamil Ethnic flag The Sri Lankan Tamils use a horizontally split flag in red and yellow. These colors are considered as the national colors of the unrecognized state of Tamil Eelam.[1]
Flag of Tamil Eelam Another famous flag of the Sri Lankan Tamils is the flag of Tamil Eelam, the Puli Kodi (tiger flag). The flag has emblem depicting a tiger jumping through a circle of bullets, with crossed black bayonets on a red background. This flag has its origin from the Tamil separation movement in Sri Lanka. The tiger symbol was adopted from the emblem of the Chola Empire, it should reflect the martial history (Veera varalaru) and the national upheaval of the Tamils.[2][3] The crossed bayonets were based on the historical crossed sword emblem of Vannimai and represent the armed resistance.[4] This flag was created by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 1977 and was later in 1990 designated as the National flag of Tamil Eelam.[5] Today, the flag is often seen in Tamil diaspora protests all over the world.

Historical Tamil flags

State Flag Image Description
Chera Dynasty Bow and Arrow The Chera kings had the title Villavar Kon, as the Villavar clan founded the ancient Chera Kingdom. Villavar means archer in Tamil.[6]
Chola Dynasty Pouncing Tiger The tiger flag of Chola is mentioned in the Periya Puranam.[7]
Pandya Dynasty Twin fish According to legend, the goddess Meenakshi was born as the daughter of a Pandya king. Her eyes had the shape of a fish and resemble the emblem of the Pandyas.[8]
Pallava Dynasty bull and lion The Pallava royal insignia was the (lion) and (bull) which was changeable. Narashimavarman used the lion as his emblem and Nandivarman preferred the Nandi. Under the reign of Parameswaravarman was Khatvanga (Skull mace) added to Pallava emblem.[9]
Ay Kingdom Elephant The Cheras took over the elephant emblem after the conquest of Ay Kingdom.
Jaffna kingdom bull The emblem of Aryacakravartis depicting a white Nandi surrounded by conch, parasol, sun and moon on a traditional saffron background.[10][11] The Aryachakravtis of Jaffna are related to the Chodaganga Dynasty of Kalinga,[12] both share a similar royal emblem.
Vanniar (Chieftain) Crossed Swords The flag of Pandara Vanniyan, the last Tamil ruler of Vannimai, was "Crossed Swords". The Vanniyar Caste used crossed swords and Agni Kundam as their emblem.
Pudukkottai state Lion The emblem of Pudukkottai state was a lion with the Hanuman flag in its right fore paw on a green background.

See also

References

  1. ^ Guha, Ramachandra (2004). An Anthropologist Among the Marxists and Other Essays. p. 108. ISBN 9788178240732.
  2. ^ Damien Kingsbury Senior Lecturer in International Development, Sri Lanka and the Responsibility to Protect: Politics, Ethnicity and Genocide (2012), p.50
  3. ^ Mahfuzul Haque, Ethnic Insurgency and National Integration: A Study of Selected Ethnic Problems in South Asia (1997), p.113
  4. ^ Prabhakaran explains the tiger flag in an interview"History of Tamil National Flag". Youtube. 2009-10-31.
  5. ^ Imogen Tyler, Protesting Citizenship: Migrant Activisms (2017), p.60
  6. ^ R. Leela Devi, History of Kerala (1986), p.106
  7. ^ Sekkizhar: “Chola of Cauvery country
  8. ^ "Sri Meenakchi (Parvathi)". Hindu Society of Minnesota. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  9. ^ R. Rajalakshmi (Ph. D.), Tamil Polity, p50
  10. ^ Perera, H., Ceylon & Indian History from Early Times to 1505 A. D, p353
  11. ^ Coddrington, H., Ceylon Coins and Currency, p74-75
  12. ^ Ray, H. C. (1960). University of Ceylon:History of Ceylon. Vol. I, Part II. Colombo: Ceylon University Press. p. 691.
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