Thang-ka
Thang-ka serve as important teaching tools depicting the life of the Buddha, various influential lamas and other deities and bodhisattvas.
Thang-ka perform several different functions. Images of deities can be used as teaching tools when depicting the life (or lives) of the Buddha, describing historical events concerning important Lamas, or retelling myths associated with other deities.
Thang-kas have a variety of uses, but they are mostly used as a means of gaining merit, during meditation, and in Buddhist ceremonies.
Devotional images act as the centerpiece during a ritual or ceremony and are often used as mediums through which one can offer prayers or make requests.
Beside in painting format, Thang-kas are also make into pendant size to allow people to carry the spiritually healing energy with them, close to their heart, wherever they go.
For hundreds of years, people have worn Tibetan Thang-ka jewelry and hung Buddha Thang-ka paintings in their homes and offices to increase wealth, improve their meditation and release negative energy from their lives.
Overall, and perhaps most importantly, religious art is used as a meditation tool to help bring one further down the path to enlightenment.