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There are two generals ways in which the Tibetan term 'dralha' is understood in Himalayan and Tibetan art: (1) as a class of gods and (2) as a general warrior appearance.

1. Dralha is the name of a class of indigenous gods inhabiting the Himalayas, Tibet and Central Asia. They are found in both the Bon and Buddhist religions. In Tibetan Buddhism, the Dralha are said to have been subjugated and then forced into the service of Buddhism as worldly protector gods by the 8th century Indian teacher Padmasambhava.

The Tibetan word 'dralha' is considered to be a Buddhist word having been changed from the word 'drablha' used in the Bon Religion and referring to a 'life god' associated with a person, tribe or place. See a depiction of Dralha Yesi Gyalpo the special protector and 'life god' of the Bon Religion founder Tonpa Shenrab - when he was a mere boy - according the early life stories.

2. Dralha Appearance, especially in the terminology of artists, refers to a figure having the general appearance of a Tibetan warrior - typically male, wearing armor and riding a horse. They can have a peaceful, semi-peaceful or wrathful expression. Many Tibetan & Himalayan Mountain Gods have this Dralha appearance, however not all of them are defined or referred to as Dralha, although they have the appearance of a Dralha.

For all of those gods that are classified as Dralha, when appearing in a painting composition, typically Krodha Vajrapani blue in colour and wrathful in appearance, is placed above at the top center. This indicates that the Dralha are worldly gods under the watchful gaze of the powerful Vajrapani. Some paintings will alternately have Padamasambhava at the top center. It is very easy to confuse the appearance of an ordinary protector Dralha from the various sub-sets and the figure of King Gesar who is often depicted in Dralha appearance.

Many commonly known gods and deities have Dralha Appearance such as: Tsiu Marpo and most 'Tsen' deities, Dorje Setrab, Amnye Machen Pomra, Draglha Gonpo, and many more.

1. Five Personal Gods
which include a Dralha (or all are referred to as Dralha)

2. Nine Dralha Brothers

3. Thirteen Dralha

4. Gesar, Dralha

5. Others...