Sureshana, the Seventh King of Shambhala

The hidden kingdom of Shambhala is a pure land whose kings hold the powerful Buddhist teachings of the Kalachakra Tantra (Wheel of Time). Sureshana, the seventh king of Shambhala, is the direct descendant of the first king, who built a three-dimensional mandala at the center of the kingdom upon receiving a transmission of the Kalachakra teaching from Buddha Shakyamuni.

Maitreya, the Future Buddha, floats in the thangka’s top register, illustrating the hierarchy in Shambhala’s protection of the Kalachakra, as the deity emanates a rainbow path down to Sureshana, identified by his sword and shield and a tiny inscription labeling him as the seventh king. Various devotees present their offerings and prayers below. The subtle washes of color and minimalist approach are characteristic of the New Karma Gadri style of painting, from the region of Kham in eastern Tibet.