Three Tsakli Initiation Cards (with 3 attendants)
Based on the teachings of Nyang ral Nyi ma 'od zer (1124? - 1192?)

These three tsakli are part of a large series, dispersed in various European collections. According to the inscriptions on the back of the initiation cards, they were produced according to the teachings of Nyang ral Nyi ma 'od zer ("nyangrel nyima özer") (1124? - 1192?), a famous gter ston ("tertön"), as the discoverers of gTer ma ("terma") texts are known.

On the back are Tibetan inscriptions in dBu med script recording the names of the depicted deities and the numbers of the cards.

Bazin, Nathalie (ed.), 2002. Rituels tibétains: Visions secrètes de Ve Dalaï Lama, [Catalogue d'exposition, Musée des Arts asiatiques-Guimet, 5 november 2002 - 24 février 2003]. Paris: Réunion des Musées nationaux. p. 133. n° 82 - Compare with six tsa ka lis from the same series

Dudjom Rinpoche (ed.), 1991. The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism, 2 Vols. Boston: Widsom Publ.. pp. 47, 755-759, 763, 829, 857, 892 - References to Nyang ral Nyi ma 'od zer (1124?-1192?)

von Schroeder, Ulrich, 2001. Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet. Vol. One: India & Nepal; Vol. Two: Tibet & China. Hong Kong: Visual Dharma Publications, Ltd.. pp. 739, 760, 854, 912 - References to Nyang ral Nyi ma 'od zer (1124?-1192?)

Wayman, Alex, 1973. The Buddhist Tantras: Light on Indo-Tibetan Esotericism. New York: Samuel Weiser. pp. 56-59 - References to Tsa ka li initiation cards