In Tibetan Buddhism a "dorje" (also known as "vajra" in Sanskrit) symbolizes the indestructible nature of reality, spiritual power, and enlightenment, often depicted as a thunderbolt or diamond scepter, representing the ability to cut through illusion and achieve ultimate wisdom; it is a key ritual object in the Vajrayana school of Tibetan Buddhism, signifying the union of compassion and wisdom through its male principle association when used with a bell (female principle). The Double Dorje (Vishvavajra), is a powerful Buddhist symbol. It consists of two crossed vajras (dorjes) and represents the foundation of the physical world. The Double Dorje is often associated with stability and protection, symbolizing the indestructible nature of the universe. This double dorje is a cross of two dorjes, which look like a small scepter with multiple prongs at each end.tibetan buddhism, holy objects, worship devices

Thangkas are cloth scrolls unique to Tibetan Buddhism, depicting deities, venerated spiritual figures, or religious symbols. Intended for personal meditation or instruction of monastic students, they are invested with the spirit of a deity to whom they are consecrated. The design of a thangka allows it to be rolled up for easy transport, a feature that was essential for traveling monks and practitioners in nomadic regions. The Shakyamuni Buddha thangkas serve as potent aids for cultivating compassion and awareness, offering inspiration and spiritual guidance to practitioners. The Buddha's path to enlightenment and subsequent teachings form the foundation of Buddhist philosophy. This thangka features an image of the Buddha in a meditative pose, holding an alms bowl in his lap. Framed by rich red textiles and surrounded by vibrant floral and cloud motifs, it is mounted on wooden dowels and topped with a yellow cover cloth.buddhist art, tibetan buddhism, holy objects

Thangkas are cloth scrolls unique to Tibetan Buddhism, depicting deities, venerated spiritual figures, or religious symbols. Intended for personal meditation or instruction of monastic students, they are invested with the spirit of a deity to whom they are consecrated. The design of a thangka allows it to be rolled up for easy transport, a feature that was essential for traveling monks and practitioners in nomadic regions. Padmasambhava thangkas are used to invoke protection, dispel obstacles, and deepen tantric practice. His image serves as a powerful reminder of transformation, spiritual resilience, and the integration of wisdom and compassion.This thangka portrays Padmasambhava seated on a lotus with a red cap, the legs crossed, the right hand holding a dorje (vajra) and the left resting in his lap. Smaller deities or lineage masters appear above and below him, each enclosed in circular frames, signifying the transmission of teachings. The thangka is framed with layers of silk brocade in yellow, red, orange and blue, with floral and cloud motifs that evoke the celestial realm. A decorative fringe at the bottom adds ceremonial richness, while the yellow fabric-covered rod at the top allows the thangka to be hung for ritual or meditative use.buddhist art, tibetan buddhism, holy objects

Thangkas are cloth scrolls unique to Tibetan Buddhism, depicting deities, venerated spiritual figures, or religious symbols. Intended for personal meditation or instruction of monastic students, they are invested with the spirit of a deity to whom they are consecrated. The design of a thangka allows it to be rolled up for easy transport, a feature that was essential for traveling monks and practitioners in nomadic regions. In Tibetan Buddhism, White Tara represents maternal compassion, healing, longevity, and purity. She is a female Buddha who offers swift help to those in need, providing protection, removing obstacles, and granting long life to practitioners for the purpose of spiritual practice and enlightenment. White Tara is worshipped for her ability to heal physical and mental illnesses.This thangka depicts White Tara seated in a meditative posture, radiating serenity and benevolence. Her white body symbolises purity and transcendent wisdom, and she is adorned with rich ornaments and flowing silks, reflecting her enlightened status.buddhist art, tibetan buddhism, holy objects

Thangkas are cloth scrolls unique to Tibetan Buddhism, depicting deities, venerated spiritual figures, or religious symbols. Intended for personal meditation or instruction of monastic students, they are invested with the spirit of a deity to whom they are consecrated. The design of a thangka allows it to be rolled up for easy transport, a feature that was essential for traveling monks and practitioners in nomadic regions. The Shakyamuni Buddha thangkas serve as potent aids for cultivating compassion and awareness, offering inspiration and spiritual guidance to practitioners. The Buddha's path to enlightenment and subsequent teachings form the foundation of Buddhist philosophy.Embroided thangka with outer cover, fringing and embroided Shakyamuni Buddha deity. Surrounded by three borders with floral motifs in gold.buddhist art, tibetan buddhism, holy objects

Thangkas are cloth scrolls unique to Tibetan Buddhism, depicting deities, venerated spiritual figures, or common religious symbols. Intended for personal meditation or instruction of monastic students, they are invested with the spirit of a deity to whom they are consecrated. A thangka is a composite three-dimensional object consisting of a picture panel which is painted or embroidered; a brocade mounting; and one or more of the following: a silk cover, leather corners, wooden dowels at the top and bottom and metal or wooden decorative knobs on the bottom dowel. Guru Padmasambhava (meaning 'Lotus-born', signifying his mythical origin as a being emerging from a lotus flower), also known as Guru Rinpoche, is seen as a manifestation of Buddha Shakyamuni. His teachings and legacy are deeply ingrained in Tibetan culture as he was responsible for bringing advanced Buddhist Tantric teachings to Tibet in the 8th century.A Tibetan thangka depicting Guru Padmasambhava. Framed in a traditional silk brocade border; a wooden dowel is inserted in a sleeve along the bottom edge of the fabric frame. buddhist art, tibetan buddhism, holy objects

Thangkas are cloth scrolls unique to Tibetan Buddhism, depicting deities, venerated spiritual figures, or common religious symbols. Intended for personal meditation or instruction of monastic students, they are invested with the spirit of a deity to whom they are consecrated. A thangka is a composite art form consisting of a picture panel which is painted or embroidered; a brocade mounting; and one or more of the following: a silk cover, leather corners, wooden dowels at the top and bottom and metal or wooden decorative knobs on the bottom dowel. This allows a thangka to be rolled up for portability, reflecting its origins in the nomadic lifestyle of Tibetan monks.The Medicine Buddha (also known as Bhaisajyaguru or Sangyé Menla) is revered as the embodiment of healing and associated with practices helping with mental and physical ailments, as well as purifying negative karma. His iconic imagery, including the medicine bowl and healing plant, represents the union of wisdom and compassion as forces of healing. His teachings, rooted in the "Four Medicine Tantras," emphasize that the root of all diseases lies in negative emotions of greed, hatred, and ignorance.The central figure in this old thangka is Medicine Buddha, seated on a lotus throne and surrounded by other deities and figures. He has a bowl in his left hand, and a flower in his right hand. An interesting feature is that his body is not painted blue, as is customary for the image Medicine Buddha. The paint colours were derived from natural ingredients – grinded coral, turquoise and other gemstones. The 'Om Ah Hum' mantra is printed in Tibetan in red ink on the verso of the thangka.buddhist art, tibetan buddhism, holy objects

Amitayus, also called Amitabha, is the Buddha of Infinite Light, associated with longevity. He is holding in his hands a vessel containing the nectar of immortality. Amitayus is considered one of the Five Dhyani Buddhas in Mahayana Buddhism. Amitayus Buddha statue, wearing jewelled ornaments of a peaceful heavenly god according to the classical Indian system of divine aesthetics. tibetan buddhism, holy objects, buddhist art, statues

As Buddhism spread to Tibet in the 7th century, prayer wheels became an essential attribute of Tibetan Buddhist practice. This practice is linked to teachings attributed to Nagarjuna, who emphasized the power of mantra recitation and visualisation.Tibetans believe that spinning the prayer wheel which as thousands or millions of mantras inside is equal to saying that many mantras, while being done in a fraction of the time. This helps accumulate merits, purify negative karma and obstacles on the path to enlightenment. This wheel has a hollow metal cylinder attached to a rod handle, made of ivory (with carved elephants), inlaid with coral and turquoise. Inside the cylinder is a tightly wound scroll printed with numerous mantras and wrapped around a spindle. The cylinder is embossed and decorated with inlaid coral and turquoise. A chain with a small weight at the end (made out of copper alloy) is affixed to the cylinder, allowing it to be spun by a slight rotation of the wrist. tibetan buddhism, holy objects, worship devices

A reproduction of a rare portrait of the Dalai Lama in a pith helmet, worn when travelling during his visit to China in 1954 when he was 19 years old.There are very few photographs of the 14th Dalai Lama from his trip to China, which was his first foreign visit outside Tibet. The Dalai Lama toured various parts of China and held discussions with the Chinese leadership about the future of Tibet, aiming to foster better relations between Tibet and China. His efforts were unsuccessful. Framed colour reproduction of a photograph on a polyester cloth canvasbuddhist art, tibetan buddhism, dalai lama xiv

Representing the original Indian pandits (Hindu scholars) who brought Buddhism to Tibet; used in the Cham Dances performed by monks during the Monlam Prayer Festival. A solid wood mask carved in a Tibetan styletibetan buddhism, worship devices, rituals

Woodblock printing in Tibet began to flourish from the 10th century onwards, driven by the high demand for Buddhist scriptures and images. Monasteries saw woodblock printing as a means to preserve and propagate authentic Buddhist teachings. The durability of woodblocks made them ideal for creating lasting impressions of sacred texts, enabling mass production and wide dissemination.This woodblock print on hand-made paper depicts Gesar, a legendary Tibetan warrior king who is invoked as a protector of the Buddha's teachings and emanation of Padmasambhava. Gesar's image is surrounded by four magical animals - garuda (top left), makara (top right), tiger (bottom left) and snow lion (bottom right). The print is framed using acrylic sheets. padmasambhava, tibetan buddhism, woodblock printing

Tsatsas are small votive tablets shaped like deities, stupas, or sacred symbols. Buddhists may vow to create 100,000 tsatsas for purification and merit. These can be placed as an offering in holy sites, home altars, or gau boxes. Traditionally made of clay using moulds, tsatsas are dried, decorated, and blessed with mantras.Portable nature of tsatsas allows them to accompany practitioners on journeys, providing spiritual protection and serving as a focus for prayer and meditation. Due to their inexpensive production and portability, tsatsas made a great contribution to the spread of Buddhism in Tibet. This tsatsa is of the Buddha in a sitting position, accompanied by two standing figures. The Buddha is richly adorned with delicate carvings around it. The tsatsa features inscriptions in an ancient script.buddhist art, tibetan buddhism, holy objects

The Shakyamuni Buddha statue holds profound significance in Buddhism, representing the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, who lived around 2,500 years ago. The statue portrays Shakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, who attained enlightenment and shared his teachings to help others achieve the same. For practitioners, the Shakyamuni Buddha statue serves as a focal point during meditation, promoting mindfulness, peace, and a deeper connection to the Buddha's teachings. The Buddha is depicted seating in meditation on a lotus throne. His legs are crossed in the lotus position. His right hand is holding an alms bowl, signifying care and compassion for all beings. His left hand touches the ground in a gesture (bhumisparsha mudra) calling the earth to witness his determination to achieve enlightenment.buddhist art, tibetan buddhism, holy objects, statues

This page is from a Tibetan prayer book. Such books are long, narrow, and printed horizontally. The pages are unbound and stored with wooden covers with silk brocade wrapped around them. The ancient Tibetan art of printing was developed to reproduce Buddhist scriptures and images of the Buddha. Monasteries or wealthy laypersons often commissioned books to gain spiritual merit. Books were printed using woodblock technique, still utilised today, on handmade paper. Scripture books are venerated by both monks and general population. A double-sided sheet of Buddhist scripture written in Tibetan script on hand-made paper. The sheet is torn in half and frying at the edges due to old age.Includes a Bodhicitta prayer and some dedication prayers.tibetan buddhism

A Mahakala dancing apron is a sacred garment used in Tibetan Buddhist ceremonial masked dances (Cham) to represent Mahakala, the fierce protector deity and emanation of compassion. The apron makes up part of a costume of a monastic dancer. It was worn either with a mask or as part of the ‘Black Hat Dance’. Mahakala is a primary Wisdom Dharmapala (protector) in Tibetan Buddhism, representing a wrathful manifestation of Chenrezig, that removes obstacles to enlightenment. Often appearing in black with multiple arms, he symbolizes the transformation of negative emotions into wisdom, protecting practitioners and the Buddha's teachings. Made of silk brocade this sacred apron features a wrathful face, bulging eyes, fangs, and skull motifs to ward off evil and destroy obstacles. The apron is mounted on a metal hanging rod.buddhist art, tibetan buddhism, holy objects

Buddhist protection amulets are deeply rooted in spiritual traditions across Asia, especially in countries like Thailand, Tibet and Nepal. These sacred objects are believed to offer protection, attract good fortune and connect the wearer with enlightened energies.A two-sided amulet with a red cord for wearing. The front features a portrait of the 16th Karmapa, the spiritual leader of the Karma Kagyu lineage in Tibetan Buddhism, in ceremonial robes and a distinctive hat. The reverse side features the image of a wrathful deity Mahakala. The rim of the amulet is shaded in gold.worship device