Marking 1000 years of Mahasiddha Naropa, a 70-ft x 40 ft scroll painting, ‘thanka’, of the Amitabha Buddha was unveiled by Gyalwang Drupa Rinpoche  here during the Naro Gyantuk festival.

The ‘thanka’ was prepared in Taiwan and gifted to Gyalwang Drukpa Rinpoche by Gyarawa Rinpoche, Taiwan. Khanchen Tsewang Rigzin says on the issue: “It is believed that if we pray and wish to Buddha Amitabha, we will be reborn in the pure land of Buddha Amitabha (Devachan-gi-Jingkham). He says that the ‘thanka’ plays a very important role during religious occasions.

“There are different kinds of ‘thankas’, some are handmade, some are made of silk and some others are made of cloth,” he says.

In the center of the Amitabha Buddha ‘thanka’, Opakmed (the Enlightened One of Immeasurable Light) is seated in the pure land of Sukhavati. Amitabha Buddha  is surrounded by Buddha Sakya muni on the top center, Padmasambhava on the top left, Manjushri on the top right, Kunkhen Padma Karpo (4th Gyalwang Drukpa Rinpoche) center left ,Dupthop Thangthong Gyalpo center right, Avalokiteswara below left and Vajrapani below right.

The Buddha has three forms  - Dharmakaya (Chos-ku) , Sambhogakaya (Longs-sku) and (Tulku) Nirmanakaya form.  The Trikaya doctrine (Sanskrit, meaning "Three Bodies" of the Buddha) refers to an important Mahayana Buddhist teaching about the nature of the Buddha.

According to this doctrine, the Buddha has three Kayas, or bodies, which are said to be manifested in different ways: 1) the Nirmanakaya (created body), which appears in time and space; 2) the Sambhogakaya (mutual enjoyment body), which is an archetypal manifestation; and, 3) the Dharmakaya (reality body), which embodies the very principle of enlightenment knowing no limits or boundaries.