Thangka

About Thangka

A Tibetan religious painting on fabric, usually portraying the Buddha or lamas in stereotyped aspects. A Handmade thangka is a Tibetan or Buddhist painting, usually painted on cotton canvas, rarely on silk. The paint can also constitute of minerals such as gold, lapis-lazuli, mercury-oxide, etc. painting. Hand-made Thanka depicts various motifs and elements of both Hinduism and Buddhism. The origin of Thangka lies in the countries of Nepal, Tibet, India, and Bhutan.

Thanka plays an important role in Buddhist rituals by providing support during the process of visualization. Thanka serves as an important teaching tool depicting the life of the Buddha, various influential lamas and other deities. Thankas are used as wall decorator but for Tibetan and Buddhists, it is always an object of religious importance.