Tormas (gtor ma) are a ubiquitous part of Tibetan Buddhist material culture. Sometimes called “butter sculptures,” tormas can be made of dough, butter, wood, and other substances, and they are often colored with intricate shapes and designs. Related to Indic Buddhist bali offerings, tormas are used in various rituals, including offering and propitiation.
Given the incredible complexity of different torma designs and functions, a great deal of scholarship remains to be done. I hope that this gallery may serve as a resource for anyone seeking to understand different types of tormas.
Images on this page may be used with attribution and for non-commercial purposes under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. If you would like to publish any of these images, please use the contact form to request a high-resolution original.
Bhutan
Bumthang



















Paro














India
Bodh Gaya
Royal Bhutanese Monastery





Kagyu Monastery

Tamang Monastery


Darjeeling
Dungon Samten








Drug Sangnag











Sonada







Ladakh
Hemis

Lamayuru








Spithuk


Stakna

Takthok





Sikkim
Karma Nunnery




Pal Karma Zurmang Shedup



Ngor Sakya

Mongolia
Ganden Khiid



























Ganden Phuntsokling Khiid


Daschan Chokhorling



Tashicholing



























Tibetan Plateau
Gyantse

Samye



Shalu

