The most common theme are the Refuge Tree and the Assembly Fields.
The Refuge Tree depicts deities or sacred objects or principles in which sanctuary is sought. The most common refuge in Buddhism is the Three Jewels made up of the Buddha, Dharma, and the Sangha. In Vajrayana, refuge include the immediate guru and his lineage, other deities and protector of the Dharma. The guru is the main or central figure, and on the branches of the tree are depicted the Buddha, the Dharma in the form of monks and bodhisattvas.
The Assembly Fields thangka is an aid in visualizing the totality of the guru’s lineage. In this painting, a group of exalted beings, who were worshipped and to whom offerings were made is depicted. The central figure, the guru, is surrounded by exalted beings, or deities and minor deities, who are not considered as sanctuaries. These are all arranged in the painting in a hierarchical structure. A monk is usually portrayed at a lower corner making a symbolical offering of the universe and its contents in the form of a mandala.
By,
S.K.Ghising
References
- Thangka : The Sacred Painting of Tibet, J.R.Santiago.
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