Ritual Jambhala Thangka Art

Description

Ritual Jambhala Thangka Art is hand-painted on Cotton Canvas in Kathmandu, Nepal. The size of this thangka is 105 x 150cm and its weight is 0.1kg. In Hindushim, it is also called Kubera.

Pancha Jambhala is depicted in the thangka. It is pronounced like Yellow Dzambala. It is painted  Jambhala Thangka is the god of prosperity in Buddhism and helps to eradicate poverty.

Iconography of Jambhala

Jambhala is considered the most popular and powerful Wealth of God. 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.

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 panhandled, his right foot 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 the leaf of a lotus.

An ordinary image of Lord Vaisravana is one that holds a precious pagoda on 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.

Mantra of Jambhala

The mantra of Jambhala is Om Jambhala Jalendraye Svaha.