We find that Swami Dayananda Saraswati (1824-1883) is shown in many pictures and photos with a long flag of AUM (OM) holding in his hand. Based on my little study of his biographies I personally believe that Swami Dayananda never took any flag in his hand. He was not a “Zandadhari” – upholder of any flag. Yes, only once in Kumbh fair of 1867 (Samvat 1923), he unfurled a distinctive flag named - “Pakhand Kandini Pataka” or “Pakhand Khandan” - means a flag for denunciation of frauds & superstitions. That flag was also not in his hand, but he mounted it on his location - (perhaps on a tree?) under which he was addressing the orthodox gathering.

My question is that showing Swami Dayananda with a flag in his hand is judicious? We all should think over this.

= Bhavesh Merja