Dharmapala Thangka CentreSchool of Thangka Painting

This extraordinary thangka is based on a mural from the Alchi Monastery [11^thcent.] in the Western Himalayas of India. Our artists had already reproduced this image in three versions several years ago.

The image shown here depicts the center of the original unchanged, while the details around the center have been added in the same style.

The Tibetan “sacred number one hundred and eight” forms the central basis for this image. This number is represented by a corresponding number of Taras. The detail no. 1 shows how the 108 Taras in the image are arranged.

The two additional Taras in the center - one with a white scarf above and one below - are not included among the 108 Taras, as they have only two arms. These two are »Dhanada« Taras, who bestow wealth.

Framed by two »Kalavinkas« [mythical celestial bird-like beings], who fan her with flywhisks and ride »Vyalas« [bearded griffins] standing on white elephants, the iconography of the deity seated in the center remains a mystery. Since her color scheme features shades of green-though in fact shades of gray and blue dominate equally - she has been interpreted, like her counterpart in the Dukhang [main hall of the monastery], as Green Tara, Dhanada-Tara, and Durgottarini-Tara, Prajnaparamita, as well as a fusion of Tara and Prajnaparamita.

However, there are no known six-armed depictions of Green Tara, and the seated deity’s posture with her arms wrapped »around her lap« [»Sattvaparyanka«] as well as certain attributes are unusual.

As attributes, Tara holds in her hands a book [»Pustaka«], a spear-like hook [»Ankusha«], a rosary [»Akshamala«], and her actual emblem, the blue lotus flower [»Utpala«].

Source: »Alchi - Treasure of the Himalayas«, Peter van Ham with Amy Heller, Hirma Verlag, 2018