An antique 19th Century or earlier (much earlier) tsakli painting in mineral pigments depicting a 5 pronged vajra, or dorje with the 'wheel of joy' (Tibetan: dga' 'khyil' at its centre, within a great red mandorla with a lotus base.. The dorje or vajra is the quintessential symbol of the 'diamond vehicle' or vajrayana Buddhist path. It symbolises the impenetrable, immovable, indivisible and indestructible state of enlightenment or Buddhahood of the enlightened mind. The vajra symbolises the male principle of skilful means, and is always held in the right, or male hand. The vajra represents the indestructible reality of Buddha's vajra mind as the unshakeable throne or ground of enlightenment. It is also regarded as prime symbol of 'shunyata' or emptiness - absorbing the unbreakable qualities of the diamond, the indestructible power of the thunderbolt and the indivisible transparent clarity of empty space.
Interestingly, this tsakli is painted on a section of a much earlier manuscript page, with two lines of archaic script to the reverse side, and a little of the text showing on the front side. Paper was a scarce and expensive commodity in Tibet, and sacred paper such as a manuscript page would have been regarded as 'auspicious. 9.8 x 12.5cm.