An antique Tibetan tsakli painting, 19th Century or earlier, depicting 3 bundles of auspicious 'kusha' grass - which was used to purify defilements, and brahmns would sleep in groves of kusha grass when ritual purification was required. In Buddhism it is believed to enhance the clarity of visualisation and meditation, and in many tantric initiations, such as the Kalachakra, it is used to reveal clear dreams on the night prior to the initiation.Within the complex esoteric symbolism of Hindu tantra, from which much of Buddhist symbolism is derived, plant species have a ritual significance as they are all manifestations of The Divine - the 'souls' of plants could be liberated at specific astrological times and geomantic places in order to focus their spiritual qualities for specific tantric rituals. 11 lines of text with 2 red illuminations, 1 syllable below. 9.4 x 12.5cm