This is a list of historical and modern flags used by the Tamil people.
| Name | Image | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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] | |||
| 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. |
| State | Flag | Image | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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] | ||
| The tiger flag of Chola is mentioned in the Periya Puranam.[7] | |||
| 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] | |||
| 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] | |||
| Elephant | The Cheras took over the elephant emblem after the conquest of Ay Kingdom. | ||
| 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 allegedly to be related to the Chodaganga Dynasty of Kalinga,[12] both share a similar royal emblem. | |||
| 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. | ||
| Lion | The emblem of Pudukkottai state was a lion with the Hanuman flag in its right fore paw on a green background. | ||