Samantabhadra Thangka, Master Quality, Buddhist Traditional Painting, Tibetan Style, Mix Gold, Rare Find, with Pancha Buddha,green Tara and Jambhala

Iconography

The Yellow Jambhala is considered the most popular and powerful of the Wealth Gods. He is the emanation of Buddha Ratnasambhava. He can remove poverty within the six realms, increasing virtues, life span, and wisdom.

He is also said to be an emanation of Vaisravana, one of the "Four Great World-protecting Heavenly Kings". He is the guardian of light in Buddhism, a great charitable deity who grants fortune and protection. Lord Vaisravana lives in the northern region under the Four Heavens, at the northern crystal palace on the fourth level of Mount Sumeru. His servants are either yaksas or bhaisajya-yaksas. According to the commentary on Lotus Sutra, this heavenly king is extremely knowledgeable as his perpetual protection of the Buddhas has enabled him to receive many teachings.

Yellow Jambhala has a yellow-colored body, he sits in the vajra position with his right leg in the panhandle, his right foot is above a snail and lotus flower, and his left leg is kinked. He has one face and two arms. His left hand holds a mongoose named Nehulay which spews forth precious jewels from its mouth, while his right-hand holds gems-shaped fruit and leaf of a lotus. An ordinary image of Lord Vaisravana holds a precious pagoda in the left, which pours out various treasures. In Tibetan Tantric images, the precious pagoda is replaced by the treasure-emitting mongoose. Yellow Jambhala sits on a lotus, sun disk, and moon disk. His mantra is:

Om Jambhala Jalendraye Svaha

About Yellow Jambjala
Jambala (Dzambhala) is the God of Wealth and appropriately a member of the Jewel family. In Hinduism, Mythology Jambala is known as Kuber. Jambhala is also believed to be an emanation of Avalokiteshwor Chenrezig, or the Buddha of Compassion, manifesting as the wealth-giving Buddha. There are 5 different wealth Jambhala. Each Jambhala has its mantra and practice to help eliminate poverty and create financial stability.

Mandra of Yellow Jambala

Who is Green Tara?

To fully comprehend who Green Tara is, one must look past the superficial boundaries of gender and form. In Vajrayana Buddhism, Green Tara is not merely a mythological goddess or an external savior; she is an archetypal expression of the primordial mind's intrinsic capacity for enlightened action. The name "Tara" itself originates from the Sanskrit root tṛ, meaning "to cross over," "to traverse," or "to ferry across." Thus, she is literally "The One Who Ferries Us Across the Ocean of Samsara."

While the masculine energy of compassion is often visualized in the static, meditative poise of Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig), Green Tara represents compassion in motion. She is the dynamic, kinetic force of the enlightened heart. She is frequently referred to as the "Mother of all Buddhas" because she nurtures the seed of awakening (Bodhicitta) within every human consciousness, protecting it from the scorching winds of delusion, pride, and hatred. To engage with her is to awaken your own dormant potential for swift, unconditioned, and fearless love toward all living beings.

The Origin and History of Green Tara

The cosmic origins of Green Tara are recorded in several foundational Mahayana sutras and Tantric lineages. According to the most cherished spiritual legend, the great Bodhisattva of Compassion, Avalokiteshvara, looked down upon the human realm from his celestial vantage point. Seeing the unceasing, cyclical agony of sentient beings trapped in samsara, he wept bitter tears of deep despair. His tears pooled upon the earth and formed a radiant, crystalline lake. From the depths of this lake, a magnificent lotus flower bloomed, and as its petals opened, it revealed the radiant form of Tara.

Another pivotal historical account traces her lineage back to a princess named Yeshe Dawa (Moon of Wisdom), who lived countless aeons ago in a distant universe. Princess Yeshe Dawa was an exceptionally advanced practitioner who regularly made vast offerings to the Buddha of that era. Recognizing her profound realization, the monastic hierarchy suggested that she pray to be reborn as a man in her next life so that she might become a fully authorized spiritual teacher.

Displaying extraordinary radical wisdom, Yeshe Dawa refused. She noted that many individuals sought enlightenment in male forms, but tragically few did so as women. She made a solemn, unshakeable cosmic vow: "Until samsara is completely emptied, I shall work for the benefit of all sentient beings exclusively in a female body." Through this vow, she achieved supreme enlightenment, establishing the historical and spiritual framework for Green Tara as the ultimate emblem of sacred feminine power within Buddhism.

The Symbolism and Iconography of Green Tara

Every single line, curve, color, and proportion in Green Tara iconography serves as a sophisticated visual language designed to communicate deep psychological and metaphysical truths directly to the practitioner's subconscious mind. Sacred Tibetan art does not aim for decorative beauty; it functions as a visual map of the enlightened state.

The Metaphysical Meaning of Her Color

The striking, vibrant emerald hue of Green Tara holds profound spiritual weight. In the system of the Five Dhyani Buddhas, the color green is directly associated with Amoghasiddhi, the Buddha of Unfailing Success and All-Accomplishing Action. Green represents the natural element of wind (Vayu). Just as the wind moves invisibly and instantly across the earth, Green Tara's enlightened energy moves with unparalleled speed to alleviate suffering. Her color signifies vitality, spiritual youth, growth, and the immediate transformation of jealousy into all-accomplishing wisdom.

The Sacred Geometry of Her Posture

Unlike other deities who sit in the rigid, cross-legged stillness of full lotus posture, Green Tara is depicted in a state of dynamic readiness known as Lalitasana, or the posture of royal ease. Her left leg is tucked inward, signifying her total mastery over inner delusions and her absolute absorption in absolute reality. Conversely, her right leg is extended outward, with her foot resting gently upon a small lotus stool. This extended right foot symbolizes her readiness to spring into immediate action at a moment's notice to rescue anyone who calls upon her name.

The Dual Lotus Flowers

In almost all traditional representations, Green Tara holds the stems of two blue-green lotus flowers (Utpala) in her hands, which bloom gracefully beside her shoulders. One flower is typically depicted as fully open, while the other is a tightly sealed bud. This delicate pairing symbolizes her omniscience across time. The blooming lotus represents the historical Buddhas of the past, while the un-bloomed bud symbolizes the potential Buddhas of the future. By holding both, she reveals that she is the eternal guardian of the path of awakening, existing completely outside the linear constraints of time.

The Mystical Hand Gestures (Mudras)

The placement of Green Tara's hands conveys her relationship to the practitioner:

• The Right Hand (Varada Mudra): Extended downward over her right knee with the palm facing outward, this is the gesture of supreme open-handed generosity and the granting of boons. It signifies her willingness to give practitioners both material comfort and the ultimate gift of spiritual liberation.
• The Left Hand (Prithvi Mudra / Refuge-Giving): Held close to her heart, the thumb and ring finger touch to create a circle, while the other three fingers extend upward. The three raised fingers represent the Three Jewels: the Buddha (Enlightened Guidance), the Dharma (Spiritual Truth), and the Sangha (Sacred Community). The closed circle demonstrates that wisdom and method are perfectly unified within her heart.

Benefits of Green Tara Practice and Mantra Chanting

Engaging regularly in Green Tara practice yields profound psychological, emotional, and physical rewards. In the traditional text The Praise to the Twenty-One Taras, it is written that her practice is the supreme antidote to the "Eight Great Fears" that plague human existence. While ancient texts describe these fears literally, modern psychology recognizes them as powerful metaphors for internal emotional blockages:

1. The Lion: Pride and arrogance
2. The Wild Elephant: Ignorance and mental delusion
3. The Forest Fire: Anger, hatred, and resentment
4. The Snake: Envy, jealousy, and malicious competitiveness
5. The Thief: False views, fanaticism, and spiritual dishonesty
6. The Fetter / Captivity: Greed, attachment, and addictive behaviors
7. The Raging Waters: Attachment, emotional drowning, and desire
8. The Flesh-Eating Demon: Chronic doubt, paralyzing anxiety, and insecurity

The primary Green Tara benefits include the rapid clearing of karmic obstacles, the pacification of chronic anxiety, and the generation of creative inspiration. Practitioners frequently report that chanting her sacred syllables induces a deep state of mental clarity, emotional resilience, and an unshakeable sense of being divinely protected from external harms and internal neuroses.

The Green Tara Mantra and Its Meaning

The auditory heart of Green Tara's realization is her renowned ten-syllable mantra. It is a sonic formulation that compresses the entirety of her enlightened energy into a brief sequence of syllables. Reciting this mantra with focused intent alters the energetic pathways of the subtle body, shifting the brain from a state of fight-or-flight stress into a state of expansive, compassionate awareness.

Oṃ Tāre Tuttāre Ture Svāhā

To fully grasp the profound Green Tara mantra meaning, we must dismantle it syllable by syllable, mapping its linguistic architecture to the progressive stages of spiritual evolution:

• Oṃ (ॐ): The universal primordial sound. It represents the impure body, speech, and mind of the practitioner transforming into the exalted, pure body, speech, and mind of a fully awakened Buddha.
• Tāre: This word signifies liberation from the physical suffering of samsara, including sickness, old age, poverty, and environmental dangers. It frees us from the cycle of uncontrolled rebirth.
• Tuttāre: This crucial phrase liberates the mind from the eight inner fears and the psychological suffering caused by delusion. It brings deep emotional healing and rectifies distorted mental habits.
• Ture: This syllable signifies the ultimate liberation from spiritual ignorance. It delivers us into the true nature of reality, accelerating our realization of emptiness and awakening the absolute wisdom mind.
• Svāhā (So-ha): Meaning "so be it" or "may these blessings take root." It seals the power of the mantra within the practitioner's heart, planting the seeds of enlightenment deep inside the subconscious.

Mantra for Green Tara

The Five Dhyani Buddhas Explained

To truly understand Buddhist deities, one must examine the specific attributes of each Dhyani Buddha.

Quick Reference: The Pancha Buddha Attributes

Name	Direction	Color	Mudra (Gesture)	Symbol	Wisdom	Element
Vairocana	Center	White	Dharmachakra (Teaching)	Dharma Wheel	All-Accommodating	Space / Ether
Akshobhya	East	Blue	Bhumisparsha (Earth-touching)	Vajra (Thunderbolt)	Mirror-like	Water
Ratnasambhava	South	Yellow	Varada (Generosity)	Jewel	Equanimity	Earth
Amitabha	West	Red	Dhyana (Meditation)	Lotus	Discriminating	Fire
Amoghasiddhi	North	Green	Abhaya (Fearlessness)	Double Vajra	All-Accomplishing	Air / Wind

Vairocana Buddha

• Meaning of the Name: "He who is like the sun" or "The Illuminator."

• Spiritual Significance: Vairocana occupies the center of the mandala. He represents the ultimate, pure reality of the Dharma. Meditating on Vairocana transforms the poison of ignorance and delusion into the Wisdom of the Universal Law (All-Accommodating Wisdom).

Akshobhya Buddha

• Meaning of the Name: "The Immovable One" or "The Unshakable."

• Spiritual Significance: Facing the East, Akshobhya is associated with consciousness. His earth-touching mudra recalls the historical Buddha's triumph over Mara. He transforms the poison of anger and hatred into Mirror-like Wisdom, allowing one to see reality exactly as it is, without distortion.

Ratnasambhava Buddha

• Meaning of the Name: "Born from the Jewel."

• Spiritual Significance: Situated in the South, Ratnasambhava represents richness and spiritual wealth. His gesture of giving signifies boundless compassion. He transforms the poison of pride and greed into the Wisdom of Equanimity, recognizing the inherent equality of all beings.

Amitabha Buddha

• Meaning of the Name: "Boundless Light" or "Infinite Light."

• Spiritual Significance: Residing in the West (the Pure Land of Sukhavati), Amitabha is one of the most widely venerated Buddhas. He transforms the poison of lust, attachment, and desire into Discriminating Awareness Wisdom, the ability to understand the unique nature of all phenomena while recognizing their underlying unity.

Amoghasiddhi Buddha

• Meaning of the Name: "Unfailing Success" or "Almighty Conqueror."

• Spiritual Significance: Placed in the North, Amoghasiddhi represents the fearless action of a Buddha. His raised hand offers protection to all beings. He transforms the poison of jealousy and envy into All-Accomplishing Wisdom, enabling effortless, compassionate action for the benefit of all.

Symbolism of Pancha Buddha

The Pancha Buddha framework is highly systematic. Its symbolism maps the path of spiritual transformation.

• Five Wisdoms: Each Buddha represents a specific facet of enlightenment, proving that the mind's impurities can be purified into brilliant awareness.

• Five Elements: The physical universe (space, water, earth, fire, and air) is inextricably linked to the spiritual realm, showing the harmony between macrocosm and microcosm.

• Five Directions: By covering the center and the four cardinal directions, the Dhyani Buddhas offer a blueprint for creating a sacred space (mandala) anywhere.

• Transformation of Human Emotions: Vajrayana Buddhism does not seek to suppress negative emotions; rather, it uses tantric practices to transmute anger, pride, attachment, jealousy, and ignorance into pure spiritual fuel.

Pancha Buddha in Buddhist Art

Traditional Depictions

In Himalayan Buddhist art, the Five Dhyani Buddhas are frequently depicted together.

• Thangkas: Painted scrolls show the Buddhas arranged in a precise mandala layout, with Vairocana in the center and the other four at the cardinal points.

• Mandalas: Geometric spiritual maps use the colors of the Pancha Buddha to guide meditation.

• Statues: A Five Buddha statue set is often placed on primary altars. They share similar physical proportions and monastic robes but are distinguished uniquely by their specific hand gestures (mudras), colors, and seating atop different animal thrones (such as the lion, elephant, horse, peacock, and garuda).

Importance in Monasteries and Temples

No Tibetan or Newar Buddhist monastery is complete without representations of the Pancha Buddha. Their icons crown the arches of doorways, embellish the peaks of stupas, and sit on the highest tiers of the main shrine, radiating blessings to all who enter.

Handmade Pancha Buddha Statues from Nepal

Nepal, particularly the Kathmandu Valley, is the historical epicenter for crafting premium Buddhist sculpture. If you are looking for a handmade Pancha Buddha, understanding the craftsmanship is essential.

Traditional Lost-Wax Casting Process

Nepal Handicrafts are famous worldwide for the ancient lost-wax casting technique. Artisans sculpt a precise model in beeswax, encase it in clay, and fire it. The wax melts away ("lost wax"), leaving a perfect mold for pouring molten copper, bronze, or brass. This ensures every Vajrayana Buddhist statue is a unique, unrepeatable masterpiece.

Hand Carving and Finishing Techniques

Once cast, master artisans spend weeks—sometimes months—chasing and hand-carving the metal. They refine the intricate floral motifs on the robes, sharpen the facial features to express deep serenity, and perfect the symbolic implements.

Fire Gilding and Precious Metals

For premium Buddhist altar statues, artisans use an ancient fire gilding process, applying an amalgam of pure 24K gold and mercury. When heated, the mercury evaporates, leaving a thick, brilliant layer of gold permanently bonded to the copper or bronze base. Statues can be crafted in copper, brass, bronze, silver, or pure gold, often adorned with semi-precious stones like turquoise, lapis lazuli, and coral.

Benefits of Keeping a Pancha Buddha Statue

Owning a Pancha Buddha Statue set is far more than an aesthetic choice.

• Meditation Support: They act as focal points for visualization practices. A Buddhist meditation statue helps steady the mind and reminds the practitioner of the specific wisdom they are cultivating.

• Spiritual Inspiration: The presence of the Five Buddhas transforms an ordinary room into a sacred space, fostering peace, mindfulness, and discipline.

• Symbol of Wisdom and Compassion: They serve as daily visual reminders to overcome negative emotions and cultivate a compassionate heart.

• Sacred Art Collection: Authentic Nepalese Buddha statues hold immense cultural value and often appreciate as heirloom pieces of fine art.

While there may be copies or imitations of this Samantabhadra, they will never quite match the original because the artist or craftsman who possesses the capability to create such high-quality art would prefer to produce their distinct pieces rather than replicate someone else's work. This ensures that each Samantabhadra maintains its individuality and stands apart from any attempts at duplication.

To further emphasize its exceptional nature, the production of this Samantabhadra involves the involvement of a single artist or meticulous supervision by a master artist. The creation process demands a significant amount of time, typically spanning around 2 to 3 months, as great attention to detail is given to every aspect. This meticulous craftsmanship contributes to the superiority of the product compared to others available in the market.

These sacred paintings serve as objects of contemplation, inspiration, and instruction, guiding practitioners on their spiritual path. Thangkas provide a visual gateway to the world of Tibetan Buddhism, encapsulating its rich symbolism, iconography, and spiritual concepts. With their vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and skillful craftsmanship, thangkas offer a profound visual medium for deepening one's understanding and connection to the teachings of Buddhism.

Thangkas come in various sizes, ranging from small pieces resembling Western half-length portraits to grand-scale creations spanning several meters in each dimension. While the larger thangkas are intended for temporary display during religious festivals, the majority of these artworks are designed for personal meditation or as educational aids for monastic students. The compositions of thangkas are meticulously crafted, featuring intricate details and often incorporating numerous small figures. A central deity or focal point is typically surrounded by a symmetrical arrangement of other divine beings, symbols, or narrative elements that convey profound spiritual teachings.

How is Thangka made

First, the canvas on which the painting is to be executed is laid on a wooden frame to determine the required dimensions. This canvas is an extremely finely woven cotton material, referred to in the Holy Scriptures as "?ura Canvas".

Then the canvas is cut, hemmed and, with the use of sturdy strings, very tightly mounted in the wooden frame. Painting is carried out with the frame in an upright position, without any further rigid support or backing.

In this studio, our primary artist, who works virtually exclusively for us, applies the undercoat consisting of a mixture of chalk and glue to the canvas by hand. Other Thangka workshops have turned to mainly using industrially pre-primed canvas.

This photo shows how the canvas, after receiving its base coat followed by a second coating of bone glue, is polished and smoothed by hand with a stone to attain a perfectly smooth, featureless painting surface. Through this process the canvas becomes quite rigid, thereby providing perfect conditions to evoke very finest artistic detail and over-all superior painting quality.

Using a different Thangka, we see how, after mounting, the complete basic pattern of the respective theme is applied to the canvas.

The following picture shows the steps in creating a gold-based Thangka, such as our No PH 9, the "Holy Mount Kailash". To achieve more intensive colour, yet another prime coat, in ochre, is applied, followed by a coat of pure gold. The so-called Thangka painting gold is traditionally produced by members of the Newar people in Nepal. 24-karat gold is ground to finest powder and mixed with bone glue and water in proportions suitable for direct use in painting. Thus, the Thangka gold is not gold leaf at all! Silver can be processed and used in the same way: Mount Kailash and the surrounding peaks in our completed Thangka were not painted with white paint, rather with precious silver.

Here, the nearly completed piece has been removed from the wooden frame. Now only the very finest finishing touches remain to be added, such as compacting the gold and giving Mount Kailash its silver mantle.

K. Lama regarded his already half-finished thangka proudly

The Mount Kailash Thangka, including the black margin (which can also facilitate the fastening of a traditional brocade frame), is now complete. Only the background gold must be compacted in the places where it is later intended to exhibit a sheen.

Here we see an old ballpoint pen casing into which a specially cut agate has been fitted. The back of this semi-precious stone is slightly concave and can be used to compact gold over extensive areas of the Thangka, while the blunt point is used to lineally compact gold, thus creating a shiny effect.

In this way, through partial compaction of the gold or refraining from compaction, nearly three-dimensional effects can be achieved. The glorious sheen of gold artistically treated in this way richly rewards the beholder or meditator with a Thangka possessed of an extraordinarily aesthetic aura.

Thangka Making Video