Murals on Tibetan Buddhist monasteries

The tradition & historical record

Tibetan monasteries are known for their culture and traditions, which are rooted in Buddhist teachings. An important aspect of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries are ritualistic places dedicated to deities. Vajrayana Buddhism features intricate iconography which depicts deities and religious practices. To a devotee, images and icons bring luck or expel evil spirits. Thangkas at monasteries depict the Buddha, gurus, yantras, and mandalas which bring good luck, health, prosperity, wisdom, longevity, and peace. Thangkas are colorful pictorial representations of religious iconography, fables, and philosophy, which became popular when they were introduced around the 8th century. The thangkas were painted on fabric that could be rolled, and their portability helped Buddhist monks to carry them from one place to another. Thangkas, as a medium for the propagation of ideology, spread from Nepal to Tibet and then to Mongolia. ¹

Murals serve as visual representations of Buddhist teachings, stories, and deities. They acquaint followers with Buddhist tenets and its pantheon, history, folklore, and religious and cosmic objects. ¹

Murals depict the lineages of gurus (religious teachers) and their disciples. The guru-disciple relationship is fundamental to all schools of Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana). Knowledge and religious practices are passed from a guru to their disciples. Murals represent the array of guru lineages. Each school has its gurus and lineage of disciples. Tibetan Buddhism has five schools, the most recent of which is Bon. The other schools are Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyu, and Gelug. ¹

Mahasiddhas are saints who achieved the direct realization of the Buddha's teachings in a single lifetime. Hailing from all walks of life, eighty-four Mahasiddhas have lived between 750 and 1150 CE. ¹

Shakyamuni, also known as Gautama Buddha, is often at the center of murals. Representing enlightenment, he embodies wisdom, compassion, and liberation. The Five Buddha Families represent different aspects of enlightenment. Each family is associated with a specific Buddha, color, element, wisdom aspect, and emotion. In Vajrayana iconography, the visualization of Buddha in five forms is known as Dhyani Buddha. Buddha images are created with Vairocana in the center and Amitabha (Yodpame) in the west, Akshobhya (Mitrugpa) in the east, Amoghasidhi (Donyen Dondrup) in the north, and Ratnasambhava (Rinchen Jungney) in the south. ¹

Vairochana (white) Associated with the element of space and representing the wisdom of all-encompassing consciousness, it transforms ignorance into the wisdom of reality. Akshobhya (blue) Associated with water, it transforms anger and aggression into mirror-like wisdom that reflects things as they are. Ratnasambhava (yellow) Associated with the earth and representing equanimity and richness, it transforms pride into the wisdom of equanimity. Amitabha (red) Associated with fire, it transforms attachment and desire into wisdom that sees the true nature of phenomena. Amoghasiddhi (green) Associated with air and wind, it transforms jealousy into the wisdom that completes all actions. ¹

These Buddha families are depicted in murals to represent the full spectrum of enlightened qualities, and to inspire practitioners to cultivate and embody these qualities in their spiritual journey. Bodhisattvas are compassionate beings who have attained advanced levels of realization but postpone their own enlightenment to help sentient beings. ¹

Mahakala, also known as the Great Black One, is a powerful deity associated with protection, overcoming obstacles, and the removal of negative forces. He is often pictured with a dark-blue or black complexion, adorned with a crown of skulls, and wearing a necklace of severed heads. Yamantaka, also known as the Destroyer of Death, is a wrathful manifestation of Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom. He is pictured with a fearsome appearance, often with multiple heads, arms, and legs. Wrathful deities (dharmapalas) are protectors and revered in various schools of Tibetan Buddhism as powerful entities tasked with guarding the dharma and its practitioners, warding off evils. They are often depicted in wrathful forms, symbolizing their fierce commitment to protecting the teachings of the Buddha and assisting practitioners on their path to enlightenment. Dharmapalas were also conceived for directions. Vajrayana conceived Kuvera (Namthose) of the north, Dhritarashtra (Yulkorsung) of the east, Virudhka (Phagchepo) of the south, and Virupaksha (Chenmigzang) of the west. These deities are associated with specific colours and characteristics. They are associated with non-human forms, making them aggressive protectors. ¹

Dakinis are female celestial beings associated with wisdom, spiritual guidance, and transformation. They are depicted in various forms, often dancing or flying in dynamic poses. In Tibetan Buddhism, dakinis are associated with specific practices, qualities, and functions. ¹

Vajrayogini Often depicted in a wrathful form, she is associated with chöd and is considered a fierce emanation of enlightened wisdom. Kurukulle Known as the Red Tara, she is associated with magnetizing activities, enchantment, and subjugating obstacles. Kurukulle is often invoked for love and relationship practices. Tara Often considered a bodhisattva, certain forms of Tara are also revered as dakinis; green Tara, in particular, is widely venerated for her compassion and swift assistance. Simhamukha Associated with the lion-headed wisdom deity, she is often invoked for protection and removing obstacles. Nairatmya Also known as the Selfless One, Nairatmya is a wisdom dakini who represents the emptiness of reality. She is associated with the Chakrasamvara Tantra. Troma Nagmo (Wrathful Black Varahi) A wrathful emanation of Vajravarahi, associated with chöd and dissolution of the ego. Vajravārāhī Also known as the Diamond Sow, she is associated with the transformative power of compassion and is often linked with the Chakrasamvara Tantra. Machig Labdrön An historical figure and a revered teacher, she is the founder of chöd and is associated with compassionate activities. Dorje Shugden She is depicted as a wrathful deity, riding a snow lion and holding a sword and a wish-fulfilling jewel. Palden Lhamo A fierce protector and the only female of the eight major dharmapalas, she is widely revered across the schools of Tibetan Buddhism and is considered the principal protector of Tibet. ¹

The text above is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Murals in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries”, available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 licence. ¹

Murals on Tibetan Buddhist monasteries is recorded in open cultural data. The structured record cited below does not describe the practice, and this entry has not yet been reviewed by a person familiar with the tradition. ²