This horizontal banner is part of a Tibetan Buddhist temple decoration that is usually hung by the rafters high along the wall. It depicts the Seven Attributes of Royal Power, or the symbols of a universal monarch (_chakravartin _in Sanskrit)—a wheel, jewel, queen, minister, elephant, horse, and general. These are often part of the offerings invoked during Buddhist rituals, including mandala offerings.
In addition to the Seven Symbols, Mount Meru occupies the central panel and wrathful offerings appear at the far right. The back of the banner contains the inscription “nub byang thur ‘tshams,” which translates to “the northwest corner.”
Ritual informs the structure of religious life in the Himalayas, defining the daily routine of practitioners and shaping a range of community-based activities.
In Himalayan cultures religious merit is the overarching reason for creating, commissioning, dedicating, and using religious works of art.
Religious rituals and the commissioning of art can serve everyday secular needs, the most common being wealth, health, and long life.
Tantric practitioners strive to transform themselves by using meditative and ritual tools with the ultimate goal of enlightenment or awakening.
Many Himalayan paintings serve as illustrations and instructional tools that bring forth stories about the Buddha, Tibetan masters, and more.
Instructive paintings can illustrate religious doctrines, medical and astrological charts, or images of ritual implements and meditative postures.
