History of the original Milarepa Thangkas
The basis for the 18 thangkas depicting Milarepa's life story was his most famous work, the »Hundred Thousand Vajra Songs«.
In 1775, the then abbot of Hemis Monastery in Ladakh [Western Tibet, now part of India], Mepham Tsewang Tänle, asked the Seventh Drukchen Rinpoche of Sangnag Choling Monastery in Southern Tibet to illustrate the life of the most famous Tibetan saint, Milarepa.
The most important passages from the life story of Tibet's greatest saint were selected and captions were compiled for 18 thangkas. After their completion, the scroll paintings were brought to Hemis Monastery.
To this day, they are kept there rolled up in leather-covered wooden boxes. Only once a year, on the occasion of the Hemis Festival, are they displayed for a few days in the private rooms of the abbot of Hemis.
| The Lifestory of Milarepa |
