List of Tamil flags - Revision history

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

== Modern Tamil flags ==

=== Indian Tamil flags ===
{|class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! style="width:220px;"|Name!! style="width:100px;"|Image!! style="width:800px;"|Description
|-
|[[Flag of Tamil Nadu|Banner]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu|Government]] of [[Tamil Nadu]] || [[File:..Tamil Nadu Flag(INDIA).png|120px|upright]] || 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 [[Flag of India|Indian flag]]. Behind the national emblem, is the image of a ''[[Gopuram]]'' tower based on the West Tower of [[Srivilliputhur Andal temple|Srivilliputhur Andal Temple]].
|}

=== Sri Lankan Tamil flags ===

{|class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! style="width:220px;"|Name!! style="width:100px;"|Image!! style="width:800px;"|Description
|-
|[[Sri Lankan Tamil people|Sri Lankan Tamil]] [[Ethnic flag]] || [[File:Bicolor flag of Tamil Eelam.svg|120px|upright]] || 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]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AEHYMg5g0CQC&pg=PA108 | title=An Anthropologist Among the Marxists and Other Essays | author=Guha, Ramachandra | pages=108}}</ref>

|-
|[[Flag of Tamil Eelam]] ||[[File:Tamil Eelam Flag.svg|120px]]|| Another famous flag of [[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 [[bayonet]]s 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.<ref>Damien Kingsbury Senior Lecturer in International Development, ''Sri Lanka and the Responsibility to Protect: Politics, Ethnicity and Genocide (2012)'', p.50</ref><ref>Mahfuzul Haque, ''Ethnic Insurgency and National Integration: A Study of Selected Ethnic Problems in South Asia (1997)'', p.113</ref> The crossed bayonets were based on the historical crossed sword emblem of [[Vannimai]] and represent the armed resistance.<ref>Prabhakaran explains the tiger flag in an interview{{cite web|title=History of Tamil National Flag|publisher=Youtube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEYc1XuIle4|date=2009-10-31}}</ref> 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.<ref>Imogen Tyler, ''Protesting Citizenship: Migrant Activisms (2017)'', p.60</ref> Today, the flag is often seen in Tamil diaspora protests all over the world.
|}

== Historical Tamil flags ==

{|class="wikitable"
|-
!State !! Flag !! Image!! Description
|-
|[[Chera Dynasty]] || Bow and Arrow || [[File:Flag of Chera dynasty.svg|120px|upright]]|| The Chera kings had the title Villavar Kon, the [[Villavar]] clan founded the ancient Chera Kingdom. Villavar means archer in Tamil.<ref>R. Leela Devi, ''History of Kerala (1986)'', p.106</ref>
|-
|[[Chola Dynasty]] || [[Flag of Chola|Pouncing Tiger]] || [[File:Flag of Chola Kingdom.png|120px|upright]]|| The tiger flag of Chola is mentioned in [[Periya Puranam]].<ref name="PeriyaPuranam">[http://www.tamilvu.org/slet/l41C1/l41C1per.jsp?sno=51 Sekkizhar: “Chola of Cauvery country]</ref>
|-
|[[Pandya Dynasty]] || [[Flag of Pandya|Twin fish]] || [[File:Twin fish flag of Pandyas.svg|120px|upright]] || 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.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hindumandirmn.org/AboutTemple/SRIMEENAKSHI(PARVATHI).aspx | title=Sri Meenakchi (Parvathi) | publisher=Hindu Society of Minnesota | access-date=13 May 2014}}</ref>
|-
|[[Pallava Dynasty]] || [[Flag of Pallava|bull and lion]] || [[File:Simha flag of Pallava Kingdom.png|120px|upright]]|| 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.<ref>R. Rajalakshmi (Ph. D.), ''Tamil Polity'', p50</ref>
|-
|[[Ay Kingdom]] || Elephant |||| The Cheras took over the elephant emblem after the conquest of [[Ay dynasty|Ay Kingdom]].
|-
|[[Jaffna kingdom]] || [[Flag of the Jaffna Kingdom|bull]] || [[File:Nandi flag.png|120px|upright]]|| The emblem of [[Aryacakravarti dynasty|Aryacakravartis]] depicting a white [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]] surrounded by [[conch]], parasol, sun and moon on a traditional saffron background.<ref>Perera, H., ''Ceylon & Indian History from Early Times to 1505 A. D'', p353</ref><ref>Coddrington, H., ''Ceylon Coins and Currency'', p74-75</ref> The Aryachakravtis of Jaffna are related to the [[Eastern Ganga dynasty|Chodaganga Dynasty]] of Kalinga,<ref>{{Cite book|title=University of Ceylon:History of Ceylon|last=Ray|first=H. C.|volume=I, Part II|date=1960|publisher=Ceylon University Press|location=Colombo|pages=691|language=en}}</ref> both share a similar royal emblem.
|-
|[[Vanniar (Chieftain)]] || Crossed Swords ||[[File:Pandara Vanniyan vector flag.svg|120px|upright]]|| 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 ||[[File:Pudukkottai flag.svg|120px|upright]]|| The emblem of [[Pudukkottai]] state was a Lion with [[Hanuman]] flag in its right fore paw on a green background.
|-
|}

==See also==

*[[Flag of Tamil Nadu|Proposed flag of Tamil Nadu]] (1970)

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Flags of Tamils| ]]
[[Category:Flags of India|Tamils]]
[[Category:Flags of indigenous peoples|Tamils]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:35, 1 January 2026
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	! style="width:220px;"\|Name!! style="width:100px;"\|Image!! style="width:800px;"\|Description		! style="width:220px;"\|Name!! style="width:100px;"\|Image!! style="width:800px;"\|Description
	\|-		\|-
	\|[[Flag of Tamil Nadu\|Banner]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu\|Government]] of [[Tamil Nadu]] \|\| [[File:..Tamil Nadu Flag(INDIA).png\|120px\|upright]] \|\| 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 [[Flag of India\|Indian flag]]. Behind the national emblem, is the image of a ''[[Gopuram]]'' tower based on the West Tower of [[~~Srivilliputhur Andal temple\|Srivilliputhur Andal~~ Temple]].		\|[[Flag of Tamil Nadu\|Banner]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu\|Government]] of [[Tamil Nadu]] \|\| [[File:..Tamil Nadu Flag(INDIA).png\|120px\|upright]] \|\| 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 [[Flag of India\|Indian flag]]. Behind the national emblem, is the image of a ''[[Gopuram]]'' tower based on the West Tower of Madurai [[Meenakshi Temple]].<ref>{{Cite news \|last=B.A \|first=Pon Vasanth \|date=2022-04-14 \|title=A tower that is emblematic of the State \|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/the-temple-that-found-a-place-in-tamil-nadus-emblem/article65320415.ece \|access-date=2025-08-17 \|work=The Hindu \|language=en-IN \|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
	\|}		\|}

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	! style="width:220px;"\|Name!! style="width:100px;"\|Image!! style="width:800px;"\|Description		! style="width:220px;"\|Name!! style="width:100px;"\|Image!! style="width:800px;"\|Description
	\|-		\|-
	\|[[Sri Lankan Tamil people\|Sri Lankan Tamil]] [[Ethnic flag]] \|\| [[File:Bicolor flag of Tamil Eelam.svg\|120px\|upright]] \|\| 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]].<ref>{{cite book \| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AEHYMg5g0CQC&pg=PA108 \| title=An Anthropologist Among the Marxists and Other Essays \| author=Guha, Ramachandra \| pages=108}}</ref>		\|[[Sri Lankan Tamil people\|Sri Lankan Tamil]] [[Ethnic flag]] \|\| [[File:Bicolor flag of Tamil Eelam.svg\|120px\|upright]] \|\| 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]].<ref>{{cite book \| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AEHYMg5g0CQC&pg=PA108 \| title=An Anthropologist Among the Marxists and Other Essays \| author=Guha, Ramachandra \| year=2004 \| pages=108\| isbn=9788178240732 }}</ref>

	\|-		\|-
	\|[[Flag of Tamil Eelam]] \|\|[[File:Tamil Eelam Flag.svg\|120px]]\|\| Another famous flag of [[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 [[bayonet]]s 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.<ref>Damien Kingsbury Senior Lecturer in International Development, ''Sri Lanka and the Responsibility to Protect: Politics, Ethnicity and Genocide (2012)'', p.50</ref><ref>Mahfuzul Haque, ''Ethnic Insurgency and National Integration: A Study of Selected Ethnic Problems in South Asia (1997)'', p.113</ref> The crossed bayonets were based on the historical crossed sword emblem of [[Vannimai]] and represent the armed resistance.<ref>Prabhakaran explains the tiger flag in an interview{{cite web\|title=History of Tamil National Flag\|publisher=Youtube\|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEYc1XuIle4\|date=2009-10-31}}</ref> 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.<ref>Imogen Tyler, ''Protesting Citizenship: Migrant Activisms (2017)'', p.60</ref> Today, the flag is often seen in Tamil diaspora protests all over the world.		\|[[Flag of Tamil Eelam]] \|\|[[File:Tamil Eelam Flag.svg\|120px]]\|\| 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 [[bayonet]]s 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.<ref>Damien Kingsbury Senior Lecturer in International Development, ''Sri Lanka and the Responsibility to Protect: Politics, Ethnicity and Genocide (2012)'', p.50</ref><ref>Mahfuzul Haque, ''Ethnic Insurgency and National Integration: A Study of Selected Ethnic Problems in South Asia (1997)'', p.113</ref> The crossed bayonets were based on the historical crossed sword emblem of [[Vannimai]] and represent the armed resistance.<ref>Prabhakaran explains the tiger flag in an interview{{cite web\|title=History of Tamil National Flag\|publisher=Youtube\|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEYc1XuIle4\|date=2009-10-31}}</ref> 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.<ref>Imogen Tyler, ''Protesting Citizenship: Migrant Activisms (2017)'', p.60</ref> Today, the flag is often seen in Tamil diaspora protests all over the world.
	\|}		\|}

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	!State !! Flag !! Image!! Description		!State !! Flag !! Image!! Description
	\|-		\|-
	\|[[Chera Dynasty]] \|\| Bow and Arrow \|\| [[File:Flag of Chera dynasty.svg\|120px\|upright]]\|\| The Chera kings had the title Villavar Kon, the [[Villavar]] clan founded the ancient Chera Kingdom. Villavar means archer in Tamil.<ref>R. Leela Devi, ''History of Kerala (1986)'', p.106</ref>		\|[[Chera Dynasty]] \|\| Bow and Arrow \|\| [[File:Flag of Chera dynasty.svg\|120px\|upright]]\|\| The Chera kings had the title Villavar Kon, as the [[Villavar]] clan founded the ancient Chera Kingdom. Villavar means archer in Tamil.<ref>R. Leela Devi, ''History of Kerala (1986)'', p.106</ref>
	\|-		\|-
	\|[[Chola Dynasty]] \|\| [[Flag of Chola\|Pouncing Tiger]] \|\| [[File:Flag of Chola Kingdom.png\|120px\|upright]]\|\| The tiger flag of Chola is mentioned in [[Periya Puranam]].<ref name="PeriyaPuranam">[http://www.tamilvu.org/slet/l41C1/l41C1per.jsp?sno=51 Sekkizhar: “Chola of Cauvery country]</ref>		\|[[Chola Dynasty]] \|\| [[Flag of Chola\|Pouncing Tiger]] \|\| [[File:Flag of Chola Kingdom.png\|120px\|upright]]\|\| The tiger flag of Chola is mentioned in the [[Periya Puranam]].<ref name="PeriyaPuranam">[http://www.tamilvu.org/slet/l41C1/l41C1per.jsp?sno=51 Sekkizhar: “Chola of Cauvery country]</ref>
	\|-		\|-
	\|[[Pandya Dynasty]] \|\| [[Flag of Pandya\|Twin fish]] \|\| [[File:Twin fish flag of Pandyas.svg\|120px\|upright]] \|\| 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.<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.hindumandirmn.org/AboutTemple/SRIMEENAKSHI(PARVATHI).aspx \| title=Sri Meenakchi (Parvathi) \| publisher=Hindu Society of Minnesota \| access-date=13 May 2014}}</ref>		\|[[Pandya Dynasty]] \|\| [[Flag of Pandya\|Twin fish]] \|\| [[File:Twin fish flag of Pandyas.svg\|120px\|upright]] \|\| 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.<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.hindumandirmn.org/AboutTemple/SRIMEENAKSHI(PARVATHI).aspx \| title=Sri Meenakchi (Parvathi) \| publisher=Hindu Society of Minnesota \| access-date=13 May 2014}}</ref>
	\|-		\|-
	\|[[Pallava Dynasty]] \|\| [[Flag of Pallava\|bull and lion]] \|\| [[File:Simha flag of Pallava Kingdom.png\|120px\|upright]]\|\| 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.<ref>R. Rajalakshmi (Ph. D.), ''Tamil Polity'', p50</ref>		\|[[Pallava Dynasty]] \|\| [[Flag of Pallava\|bull and lion]] \|\| [[File:Simha flag of Pallava Kingdom.png\|120px\|upright]]\|\| 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.<ref>R. Rajalakshmi (Ph. D.), ''Tamil Polity'', p50</ref>
	\|-		\|-
	\|[[Ay Kingdom]] \|\| Elephant \|\|\|\| The Cheras took over the elephant emblem after the conquest of [[Ay dynasty\|Ay Kingdom]].		\|[[Ay Kingdom]] \|\| Elephant \|\|\|\| The Cheras took over the elephant emblem after the conquest of [[Ay dynasty\|Ay Kingdom]].
	\|-		\|-
	\|[[Jaffna kingdom]] \|\| [[Flag of the Jaffna ~~Kingdom~~\|bull]] \|\| [[File:Nandi flag.png\|120px\|upright]]\|\| The emblem of [[Aryacakravarti dynasty\|Aryacakravartis]] depicting a white [[Nandi (bull)\|Nandi]] surrounded by [[conch]], parasol, sun and moon on a traditional saffron background.<ref>Perera, H., ''Ceylon & Indian History from Early Times to 1505 A. D'', p353</ref><ref>Coddrington, H., ''Ceylon Coins and Currency'', p74-75</ref> The Aryachakravtis of Jaffna are related to the [[Eastern Ganga dynasty\|Chodaganga Dynasty]] of Kalinga,<ref>{{Cite book\|title=University of Ceylon:History of Ceylon\|last=Ray\|first=H. C.\|volume=I, Part II\|date=1960\|publisher=Ceylon University Press\|location=Colombo\|pages=691\|language=en}}</ref> both share a similar royal emblem.		\|[[Jaffna kingdom]] \|\| [[Flag of the Jaffna kingdom\|bull]] \|\| [[File:Nandi flag.png\|120px\|upright]]\|\| The emblem of [[Aryacakravarti dynasty\|Aryacakravartis]] depicting a white [[Nandi (bull)\|Nandi]] surrounded by [[conch]], parasol, sun and moon on a traditional saffron background.<ref>Perera, H., ''Ceylon & Indian History from Early Times to 1505 A. D'', p353</ref><ref>Coddrington, H., ''Ceylon Coins and Currency'', p74-75</ref> The Aryachakravtis of Jaffna are allegedly to be related to the [[Eastern Ganga dynasty\|Chodaganga Dynasty]] of Kalinga,<ref>{{Cite book\|title=University of Ceylon:History of Ceylon\|last=Ray\|first=H. C.\|volume=I, Part II\|date=1960\|publisher=Ceylon University Press\|location=Colombo\|pages=691\|language=en}}</ref> both share a similar royal emblem.
	\|-		\|-
	\|[[Vanniar (Chieftain)]] \|\| Crossed Swords \|\|[[File:Pandara Vanniyan vector flag.svg\|120px\|upright]]\|\| 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~~.		\|[[Vanniar (Chieftain)]] \|\| Crossed Swords \|\|[[File:Pandara Vanniyan vector flag.svg\|120px\|upright]]\|\| The flag of [[Pandara Vanniyan]], the last Tamil ruler of [[Vannimai]], was "Crossed Swords".
	\|-		\|-
	\|[[Pudukkottai state]] \|\| Lion \|\|[[File:Pudukkottai flag.svg\|120px\|upright]]\|\| The emblem of [[Pudukkottai]] state was a ~~Lion~~ with [[Hanuman]] flag in its right fore paw on a green background.		\|[[Pudukkottai state]] \|\| Lion \|\|[[File:Pudukkottai flag.svg\|120px\|upright]]\|\| The emblem of [[Pudukkottai]] state was a lion with the [[Hanuman]] flag in its right fore paw on a green background.
	\|-		\|-
	\|}		\|}