Wheel of Life

This is a vibrant Tibetan Buddhist thangka painting depicting the Wheel of Life (Bhavachakra). A fierce, monstrous figure, Yama (the Lord of Death), shown with red skin, a third eye, and fangs, clutches the great wheel, symbolizing the impermanence of existence. The wheel itself is divided into three parts: the center shows the three poisons (pig, snake, rooster); the inner ring illustrates karma; and the outer rim is the twelve links of dependent origination. The six spokes contain the six realms of existence (gods, demigods, humans, animals, hungry ghosts, hell beings), each exquisitely detailed with scenes of suffering and rebirth. Above the wheel, figures indicate the path to liberation.