The subject depicted in this thangka is called Guruparampara, a “Line of Teachers.” It depicts the family tree of Nyingma lineage, as it were, and its function is to indicate a line of descent. The meaning of this presentation is to show a refuge for believers. It creates a kind of structure with a number of deities and teachers in whom devotees take refuge, because they will help believers in the course of their spiritual development. Gurus .