A "Samsara Thangka" is a Tibetan Buddhist art form that illustrates the cyclic notion of Samsara. In Buddhism, Samsara is the continuous cycle of reincarnation due to karma and desires. Created by master artists, the painting is a visually stunning representation of the cycle of life and death. With its vivid details and symbolism, it serves as a reminder to live and act with intention.
This Antique Samsara Brocade Thangka features numerous realms of Samsara: gods, demigods, humans, animals, hungry ghosts, and hell beings. These regions are each associated with distinct forms of suffering and experiences, with beings undergoing cycling through them as a response to their actions and mentalities.
The centerpiece of a Samsara Thangka is illustrating the fleeting nature of Samsara and the unsatisfactory situations within it. It serves as a visual representation of the Buddhist practice of seeking freedom and enlightenment, to escape perpetual suffering.