The Sacred Banner: Pataka as Emblem and Icon in Hindu Sculpture Among the many emblems and attributes carried by divine figures in Hindu sacred art, the pataka or flag holds a unique and layered significance. Unlike weapons such as the sword or trident, which signal active combat and protective force, the pataka belongs to a different order of sacred symbolism. It is classified as an emblematic lakshana, a distinguishing mark that announces the identity, domain, and divine authority of the figure who bears it. Rendered in stone, bronze, and painted surfaces across centuries of Indian artistic tradition, the pataka communicates without movement, speaks without sound, and commands without aggression. The Form and Visual Character of the Pataka The pataka in sculptural and bronze traditions takes the form of a rectangular or tapering cloth panel attached to a vertical staff. The cloth panel is often depicted with one or more triangular notches cut into the lower edge, or with for...