At the foot of The Great Stupa in Bendigo, where countless prayers gather, a sacred project began to shine into existence. For nearly ten months, our hands, hearts, and prayers worked together to bring forth three sacred thangkas: the Kalachakra Deity Thangka, the Kalachakra Mind Mandala Thangka, and the Kalachakra Text Mantra Thangka. Each one was created not simply as art, but as an offering of devotion, blessing, and harmony for all sentient beings.

When my father, Narayan Shrestha, and I, were at The Great Stupa for a short thangka exhibition in December 2024, we were humbled by an approach from Venerable Jampa. With great kindness, he asked us to create these thangkas for the Kalachakra Puja to be blessed by Khensur Jhado Rinpoche. It was a calling to bring sacred imagery into existence so that its blessing could extend to countless lives.

The Kalachakra thangkas carry profound meaning. Kalachakra, known as the “Wheel of Time”, represents the union of wisdom and compassion and the interdependence of the inner and outer worlds. The Deity Thangka portrays the enlightened form of Kalachakra surrounded by vast symbolic detail, embodying the timeless truth of impermanence and spiritual awakening. The Mind Mandala Thangka is a vast, intricate cosmic diagram representing the universe and the enlightened mind, a profound tool for meditation and visualization. The Text Mantra Thangka carries the sacred syllables that hold the essence of Kalachakra’s blessing, making the unseen power of mantra visible to those who encounter it. Together, these thangkas are not simply paintings but vessels of Dharma meant to inspire peace and liberation.

The process of creating a thangka is itself a spiritual practice. It begins with generating a pure motivation, holding the intention that every line and color may bring benefit to beings. Pure cotton canvas is carefully prepared, stretched, and primed. Natural paints are ground and mixed by hand, many sourced from minerals and plants, then consecrated through prayers. The deity or mandala is first sketched with precise geometry, guided by centuries-old iconographic tradition. Layers of shading bring depth and vibrancy, followed by fine details that demand unwavering mindfulness. Gold is applied with delicate precision, symbolizing the indestructible, radiant nature of enlightenment. Each stage is a meditation, each gesture an offering, and only with such devotion does the thangka come alive as a sacred presence rather than a mere painting.

The three Kalachakra thangkas were each profound undertakings, filled with both challenge and blessing. From the immense size of the paintings to the delicacy of their brocade frames, every stage required extraordinary care, patience, and skill. More than fifteen artisans worked together to ensure that the sacred images were completed with precision and mounted without harm, as the materials are fragile and easily damaged. Each thangka demanded deep attention to detail and unwavering devotion, and though the work took longer than we first estimated, by the collective effort of all involved they were completed and reached The Great Stupa in time for the Kalachakra Puja.

This Kalachakra initiation is a rare and sacred event, something that happens perhaps once in two decades. Such ceremonies are performed not only for those who attend but as an offering of peace and harmony for the whole world. The blessing of Khensur Jhado Rinpoche, combined with the presence of these thangkas, ensured that the merit of the retreat was vast, far-reaching, and timeless.

We are deeply grateful to the team at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion for supporting and trusting local Nepalese artisans in this sacred work. To Venerable Jampa for his vision, to the artisans whose patience and skill brought each detail to life, and to every helping hand along the way, we offer heartfelt thanks.

May these thangkas inspire all who see them. May they serve as mirrors of compassion, doorways to wisdom, and reminders of the timeless truth of Kalachakra — that peace in the outer world arises only when there is peace in the inner world. Through this offering, may all beings everywhere be free from suffering and may harmony flourish.

With gratitude,
Narayan & Prateek
Himalayas Shop