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19th C.Monastery Wangden Runner. Unusual not interlocking swastika border with 2 and 1 geometric stupas. Wangdens have a warp faced backing, usually with fringe. These rugs are considerably heavier and more comfortable to be used in the monastery. The sole purpose of the Wangden was monastic, these were not made for the individual. Rarely did they find their way to the private residence. expensive This is a considerably longer Wangden.

Stupas generally represent the enlightened mind of the Buddha. They were constructed since the early days of Buddhism. One of the symbolic meanings is that they represent the five elements: the square base represents earth, the round dome is for water, the cone-shape is fire, the canopy is air and the volume of the stupa is space.
The Swastika is a well-know good-luck symbol from India. In Sanskrit, swastika means conducive to well-being. In the Buddhist tradition, the swastika symbolizes the feet or footprints of the Buddha. With the spread of Buddhism, it has passed into the iconography of China and Japan where it has been used to denote plurality, abundance, prosperity and long life. In India, Hindus use the swastika at thresholds, doors, and offerings, the right-hand swastika is a solar symbol and the left-hand version represents Kali and magic. In ancient Mesopotamia it was a favourite symbol on coinage, In Scandinavia it was the symbol for the god Thor's hammer. In early Christian art it was called the gammadion cross because it was made of four gammas.