Shop thangka by deity
Looking for one Buddha, bodhisattva, yidam or protector rather than a style? Every thangka we carry is gathered into a collection by deity — pick one below, or read the complete guide to Tibetan Buddhist deities first.
Buddhas
Shakyamuni Medicine Buddha Amitabha Amitayus Vairocana Akshobhya Maitreya
Bodhisattvas
Chenrezig Manjushri Vajrapani Green Tara White Tara Samantabhadra Ksitigarbha
Yidams
Vajrakilaya Yamantaka Vajrayogini Hayagriva Vajrasattva
Dharma protectors
Mahakala Palden Lhamo
Lineage masters
Guru Rinpoche Tsongkhapa Milarepa Machig Labdron
A thangka is a scroll painting on cotton or silk, made to be rolled, carried and unrolled — a portable shrine. The best thangka paintings follow strict iconometry: the proportions of the deity, the colour of each body, the objects in each hand and the throne beneath are all prescribed, which is why two thangkas of the same figure can still differ in lineage, style and price.
This collection gathers every thangka we carry: original hand-painted thangka paintings by Himalayan artists, giclée print thangkas for practitioners who want archival colour at a lower price, woodblock and bronzing printed thangkas for teaching rooms, and locket thangkas small enough to wear. Sizes range from miniature pendants to large wall pieces, mounted or unmounted.
Not sure which thangka to choose? Start with the deity whose practice you keep — Shakyamuni, Medicine Buddha, White Tara, Green Tara, Chenrezig, Vajradhara or Palden Lhamo — then choose the format: hand painted for original work, print for study and travel.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell a hand-painted thangka from a printed one?
Turn it over and look at the reverse: a hand-painted thangka shows brush penetration and uneven mineral pigment, and often has a hand-numbered inscription. A print shows a uniform dot pattern under magnification and a perfectly even reverse. Our listings state the technique in the product title.
Do thangkas need to be framed?
Traditionally a thangka is mounted in silk brocade with wooden dowels so it can be rolled. For modern interiors, mounting behind glass is fine, but leave an air gap so the pigments and silk are not pressed against the glass.
How should I store or hang a thangka?
Keep it out of direct sunlight and damp walls. Roll with the painted side outward around a padded dowel, tie with a soft cord, and store high and dry. Dust with a soft dry brush only — never water or solvent.
Sale
