Paintings and Carvings on Stones as Votive Offerings around the Kora and Walls of Tibetan Temples

 

Kora around the Jokhang, Lhasa

You will find stones with the Om mani padme hum or paintings on stones, extracts of holy scriptures that are affixed to walls around temples or the kora (clockwise circumambulation of temples on a preset course). And I will show you a few examples.

The stones with Om mani padme hum are also called mani stones. You will also find these around nature, for instance on high passes or on larger rocks. It is a form of devotion to the spirits of the place.

 

Around Sera monastery

Back side of Potala

 

 Back side of Potala

 One of the higher passes

Kota of Tashilhunpo monastery in Shigatse

 

 Lhasa again 

(actually the top picture nine years ago)

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