Articles

Hand-painted wish-fulfilling jewel mandala in a light wooden frame: white jewels in red flames at the centre of the palace

What Is a Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Mandala?

A wish-fulfilling jewel mandala sets flaming jewels at the heart of a mandala palace. What...
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Hand-painted double vajra mandala in a white frame with a mat, above a table: a crossed vajra on a red lotus at the centre

What Is a Double Vajra Mandala?

A double vajra mandala sets a crossed vajra at the heart of a mandala palace....
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Hand-painted seed syllable mandala on an orange ground, framed on a grey wall: a single syllable at the centre of the palace

What Is a Seed Syllable Mandala?

A seed syllable mandala sets one sacred syllable, the sound-form of a Buddha or deity,...
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Hand-painted thangka of Chenrezig, Amitabha Buddha and Padmasambhava side by side, framed above a sofa

Amitabha, Chenrezig and Padmasambhava Thangkas: Meaning and Symbols

Why Amitabha, Chenrezig and Padmasambhava are painted together: the lotus family, the three kayas, and...
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Hand-painted dragon mantra mandala in gold on black, in a black frame with a white mat: rings of mantra script surrounded by dragons

What Is a Dragon Mandala?

Dragon mandalas set the Himalayan thunder dragon in a round, mandala-like frame. How they are...
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Hand-painted Endless Knot mandala in gold on black, in a dark frame in a living room: the knot sits at the centre of the palace

What Is an Endless Knot Mandala?

An endless knot mandala sets one of the eight auspicious symbols at the centre of...
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Hand-painted Shakyamuni Buddha mandala in gold and black, framed above a table: the Buddha sits at the centre of the palace

What Is a Shakyamuni Mandala?

A Shakyamuni mandala sets the historical Buddha, touching the earth, at the heart of a...
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Hand-painted Refuge Tree thangka against a wooden wall: buddhas, teachers and deities gathered on a great tree above a lake

What Is a Refuge Tree Thangka?

A refuge tree gathers a lineage's teachers, deities, Buddhas, teachings and protectors on one great...
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Hand-painted Vairocana thangka in black and gold, in a frame leaning among plants: the white Buddha seated on a lotus

Vairocana Thangkas: Meaning and Symbols

Vairocana, the white Buddha at the centre of the Five Buddhas: his four-faced form, his...
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Hand-painted Chundi thangka on a grey brick wall between two chairs: the white many-armed goddess in a circle of light

Chundi (Cundi) Thangkas: Meaning and Symbols

Chundi, the many-armed Mother of Seventy Million Buddhas, loved in Chinese Buddhism: her eighteen arms,...
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Hand-painted Dorje Phagmo thangka in black and gold on a white shelf: the red goddess dances, holding a curved knife

Dorje Phagmo (Vajravarahi) Thangkas: Meaning and Symbols

Dorje Phagmo, or Vajravarahi, the red dancing goddess with a sow's head in her hair:...
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Hand-painted Kagye thangka of the Eight Herukas in a black frame on a small cabinet: a wrathful deity at the centre, surrounded by the other herukas

Kagye (Eight Herukas) Thangkas: Meaning and Symbols

The Kagye, or Eight Herukas, are eight wrathful meditation deities of the Nyingma school. Who...
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Recent Posts

Hand-painted wish-fulfilling jewel mandala in a light wooden frame: white jewels in red flames at the centre of the palace
What Is a Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Mandala?
A wish-fulfilling jewel mandala sets flaming jewels at the heart of a mandala palace. What...
by Crafts of Tibet
Hand-painted double vajra mandala in a white frame with a mat, above a table: a crossed vajra on a red lotus at the centre
What Is a Double Vajra Mandala?
A double vajra mandala sets a crossed vajra at the heart of a mandala palace....
by Crafts of Tibet
Hand-painted seed syllable mandala on an orange ground, framed on a grey wall: a single syllable at the centre of the palace
What Is a Seed Syllable Mandala?
A seed syllable mandala sets one sacred syllable, the sound-form of a Buddha or deity,...
by Crafts of Tibet