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ARTISTIC DETAILS FROM RECENT MONLAMS
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Artists put finishing touches on the large tormas called "shalzes," which traditionally are considered to be food offerings for the deities. They are decorated with circular ornaments called "gyens." These elaborate shalze gyens depict stylized representations of traditional Tibetan offerings.
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This is a special type of "gyen" or ornament called "gakyil," which means "joy swirl."
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This following series depicts elements of two sets of offerings: "The Eight Auspicious Symbols," which represent the physical qualities of the Buddha, and "The Seven Articles of Royalty," which represent the seven possessions of the Chakravartin (Universal Monarch)
(top gyen) One of the seven articles of royalty, the precious wheel is a golden wheel with a thousand spokes that is made of gold from the Jambu River of Jambudvipa.
(bottom gyen) This depicts some of the seven auspicious substances, so named because they were presented to the Buddha during his lifetime: the mirror, vermilion, the white conch, gewam medicine, durwa grass, bilwa fruit, yoghurt and white mustard seed.
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(top gyen) This gyen depicts one of the eight auspicious symbols. The golden fish represent the shape of the Buddha's eyes.
(bottom gyen) One of the seven articles of royalty, the precious jewel is actually an eight-sided, brilliant, blue jewel. Here it is show as a group of jewels with a blue one at the apex.
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(top gyen) One of the eight auspicious symbols, the vase represents the shape of the Buddha's throat.
(bottom gyen) One of the seven articles of royalty, the precious queen is a flawless woman who dispels all of the "kleshas," (emotional afflictions) and supports her consort, the monarch in all ways.
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(top gyen) One of the eight auspicious symbols, the lotus represents the shape of the Buddha's tongue.
(bottom gyen) One of the seven articles of royalty, the precious minister is a wise and skillful adviser who helps the monarch succeed in all affairs of state.
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(top gyen) One of the eight auspicious symbols, the clockwise-turning conch shell represents the three lines on the Buddha's throat.
(bottom gyen) One of the seven articles of royalty, the precious elephant is so strong that there is nothing he can't carry. He has seven limbs: four legs, two tusks, and a trunk.
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(top gyen) One of the eight auspcious symbols, the glorious knot, sometimes called the eternal knot, is a design found on the Buddha's heart.
(bottom gyen) One of the seven articles of royalty, the supreme, precious steed is a horse so fast that he can traverse all the continents of the world in the time it takes to get hungry.
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(top gyen) One of the eight auspicious symbols, the shape of the victory banner represents the perfect proportions of the Buddha's body.
(bottom gyen) One of the seven articles of royalty, the precious general has what are traditionally called the sixty-four martial skills. He can conquer all the monarch's enemies and overpower them very quickly without even having to engage in an organized campaign of warfare.
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This gyen is called "Amchok Metok" which means flower.
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