Thangka

Painting. A Wisdom Scroll. Tibetan Lamaism has two forms, an outer one known to all Tibetans and an inner one known only to specially trained adepts. This banner belongs to the latter. At the top is a small figure of the Lord of Wisdom, Manjusri. The goddess in the center shares some of his attributes, the sword to combat ignorance and the book (the sheaf of pages in her lap). She is sitting on and crushing the symbol of ignorance. The four goddesses accompanying her are equal in rank and power. The lesser dancing goddesses around the central part belong to a group known as dakini. A mystic wealth-goddess of the dakini type occupies the bottom center, and wealth symbols, offerings to the goddesses decorate the bottom of the painting. Only a very few of the lamas would know what this painting was about, and they would not be allowed to discuss it with anyone who did not also belong to the inner group of wise lamas. Recent. Bright colors.