Lovely hand-painted Tibetan thangka framed in a beautiful silk brocade mount. Painting depicts god of death Yama holding the Wheel of Life that serves as a visual representation of Samsara (cycle of life, suffering, death and rebirth). Pig, snake and rooster at the centre of the wheel represent ignorance, hatred and greed – three poisons that keep the wheel turning. They are surrounded by the circle of karma that gives rise to five – sometimes six – realms of Samsara depending on various levels of suffering. The outer layer of the wheel shows the twelve links of dependent origination that explain how actions caused by ignorance perpetuate the process of Samsara.
Thangka is in good condition with minor loss of pigments and some creasing consistent with age and usage.
Dimensions:
66×54 cm including the mount
painting itself measures 33×26 cm
Origin: Tibet
Date of production: 20th century
Materials: opaque pigments on canvas
