Thangkas of Bodhisattvas

Mahakala (protector) - Shadbhuja, Sita (White) 玛哈噶拉菩萨


Puxian Bodhisattva 普贤王菩萨













Vajrapani Bodhisattva 金刚手菩萨

Sarvanivārana-Viskambhin Bodhisattva 除盖障菩萨













Manjusri Bodhisattva 文殊菩萨

Maitreya Boddhisattva
弥勒菩萨













Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva 观音菩萨

Ksitigarbha 地藏王菩萨













Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva 大愿地藏王菩萨

Buddha & 8 Bodhisattvas
释迦牟尼佛和八大菩萨














Akasagarbha Bodhisattva 虚空藏菩萨

Avalokiteshvara - Simhanada (Lion's Roar)
观自在菩萨

The History of Tibetan Thangka

The History of Thangka
A "Thangka," also known as "Tangka", "Thanka" or "Tanka" (Tibetan: ཐང་ཀ་, Nepal Bhasa:पौभा) is a painted or embroidered Buddhist banner which is hung in a monastery or a family altar and occasionally carried by monks in ceremonial processions. In Tibetan the word "thang" means flat, and thus the Thangka is a kind of painting done on flat surface but which can be rolled up when not required for display, sometimes called a scroll-painting. The most common shape of a Thangka is the upright rectangular form.


Originally, thangka painting became popular among traveling monks because the scroll paintings were easily rolled and transported from monastery to monastery. These thangka served as important teaching tools depicting the life of the Buddha, various influential lamas and other deities and Bodhisattvas. One popular subject is The Wheel of Life, which is a visual representation of the Abhidharma teachings (Art of Enlightenment).
To Buddhists these Tibetan religious paintings offer a beautiful manifestation of the divine, being both visually and mentally stimulating.

Thangka, when created properly, perform several different functions. Images of deities can be used as teaching tools when depicting the life (or lives) of the Buddha, describing historical events concerning important Lamas, or retelling events associated with other deities. Devotional images act as the centerpiece during a ritual or ceremony and are often used as mediums through which one can offer prayers. Overall, and perhaps most importantly, religious art is used as a meditation tool to help bring one further down the path to enlightenment.

Historian note that Chinese painting had a profound influence on Tibetan painting in general. Starting from the 14th and 15th century, Tibetan painting had incorporated many elements from the Chinese, and during the 18th century, Chinese painting had a deep and far-stretched impact on Tibetan visual art.


Namu Myo Ho Renge Kyo
Namo Buddhaya

Thangka of Jambala 黄财神

 Jambala

黄财神

Thangka of Medicine Buddha 药师佛

Medicine Buddha

药师佛

 

Thangka of Green Tara 禄度母

Green Tara 禄度母

The Protective T'ruel

The tradition of making Ruel was first known to be practiced some 300 years ago in Tibet and is uniquely in the Gulugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism. The rituals of making the Ruel are performed by generations of Abbots of the Drepung Loseling Monastery with many of its Rinpoches, Geshies, and holy Lamas.

Ruel are specially made by the holy monks as a protective amulets. The Tibetans believed that the Ruel projects a very powerful protective aura to dissolve any misfortune, black arts and to deflect evil spirits. The Ruel is usually worn as an amulet for personal protection and it can be kept at home to guard against robbery and ensure safety of the family. Kept in the office, the Ruel can minimize obstacles and protects against unnecessary misunderstanding and friction with colleagues and superiors. It has the ability to enhance one’s lucks and good fortunes! It is believed by the Tibetans that the Ruel is extremely auspicious and precious because it is very troublesome and hard to make as materials used are extremely holy, rare (hard to find or get), precious and need a lot of time to made. That is why Ruel is very scare and hard to come by. It is common practice in Tibet to present such precious Ruel to the Buddha and the deities as an ultimate offerings to show their sincerity.

The Ruel is made with various precious stones and metals in their most natural form. It also contains religious Relics from generations of holy Lamas, holy mandalas and mantras scripts. Ancient Tibetan rituals are performed for a very long period of time to render the Ruel its powerful protective energy.

If you do happen to find Ruel, it may be your only lifetime to get one as it is rare and uncommon to see outside Tibet or only in some major Tibetan Temples.


Namo Buddhaya
Namo Dharmaya
Namo Sanghaya