List of Tamil flags: Difference between revisions

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by 2402:8100:3908:C9C7:C105:DA56:8BED:F5B9
Last edited January 1, 2026
VisualWikitext
robot: import pages using Special:Import
 
page updated
 
Line 10: Line 10:
! 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>
|}
|}


Line 19: Line 19:
! 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.
|}
|}


Line 31: Line 31:
!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.
|-
|-
|}
|}

Latest revision as of 19:35, 1 January 2026


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

Modern Tamil flags[edit | edit source]

Indian Tamil flags[edit | edit source]

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 Madurai Meenakshi Temple.[1]

Sri Lankan Tamil flags[edit | edit source]

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.[2]
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.[3][4] The crossed bayonets were based on the historical crossed sword emblem of Vannimai and represent the armed resistance.[5] 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.[6] Today, the flag is often seen in Tamil diaspora protests all over the world.

Historical Tamil flags[edit | edit source]

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.[7]
Chola Dynasty Pouncing Tiger The tiger flag of Chola is mentioned in the Periya Puranam.[8]
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.[9]
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.[10]
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.[11][12] The Aryachakravtis of Jaffna are allegedly to be related to the Chodaganga Dynasty of Kalinga,[13] both share a similar royal emblem.
Vanniar (Chieftain) Crossed Swords The flag of Pandara Vanniyan, the last Tamil ruler of Vannimai, was "Crossed Swords".
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[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ B.A, Pon Vasanth (2022-04-14). "A tower that is emblematic of the State". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-08-17.
  2. ↑ Guha, Ramachandra (2004). An Anthropologist Among the Marxists and Other Essays. p. 108. ISBN 9788178240732.
  3. ↑ Damien Kingsbury Senior Lecturer in International Development, Sri Lanka and the Responsibility to Protect: Politics, Ethnicity and Genocide (2012), p.50
  4. ↑ Mahfuzul Haque, Ethnic Insurgency and National Integration: A Study of Selected Ethnic Problems in South Asia (1997), p.113
  5. ↑ Prabhakaran explains the tiger flag in an interview"History of Tamil National Flag". Youtube. 2009-10-31.
  6. ↑ Imogen Tyler, Protesting Citizenship: Migrant Activisms (2017), p.60
  7. ↑ R. Leela Devi, History of Kerala (1986), p.106
  8. ↑ Sekkizhar: “Chola of Cauvery country
  9. ↑ "Sri Meenakchi (Parvathi)". Hindu Society of Minnesota. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  10. ↑ R. Rajalakshmi (Ph. D.), Tamil Polity, p50
  11. ↑ Perera, H., Ceylon & Indian History from Early Times to 1505 A. D, p353
  12. ↑ Coddrington, H., Ceylon Coins and Currency, p74-75
  13. ↑ Ray, H. C. (1960). University of Ceylon:History of Ceylon. Vol. I, Part II. Colombo: Ceylon University Press. p. 691.
Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Tamil_flags&oldid=446559"
Discover more