Hand-painted Wheel of Life Thangka "Reincarnation Sacred Map"

This hand drawn Tibetan Buddhist thangka is made on cotton canvas and showcases the Wheel of Life, representing reincarnation - the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth caused by karma. At the center, the three animals (pig, snake, rooster) represent ignorance, hatred, and desire, which plunge sentient beings into pain and suffering.

Surrounding these six domains - gods, demigods, humans, animals, hungry ghosts, and hellish creatures - each domain has its own pain. The Grim Reaper, the King of Hell, holds a bronze mirror that conjures up various states of life, emphasizing the impermanence of life. The wheel is held by Yama, the Lord of Death, symbolizing the impermanence and mortality that govern all beings in samsara. The outer rim features twelve sections, illustrating the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination, which outline the process trapping beings in suffering.

Rooted in Tibetan Buddhist tradition, this thangka serves as a sacred tool for meditation and ritual, embodying the profound teachings of mantra recitation and the pursuit of inner peace.

     The colors used in the thangka painting are sourced from minerals like lapis lazuli for blue, cinnabar for red, and malachite for green. These minerals are ground into fine powders and mixed with animal glue to form a vibrant medium.