Bhaishajyaguru - The Medicine Buddha

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In Northern Buddhism set of eight Medicine Buddhas are popular. These Buddhas, who are particularly venerated for healing powers, are led by the Buddha Bhaishajyaguru. Bhaishajyaguru means “Supreme Healer”, “the Lord Who Has a Healing Effect.”

He is shown here seated in vajraparyankasana on a moon disk on lotus flower on a throne that is held by two snow lions. The complexion of his body is deep blue and radiates healing rays of energy. He has curly hair with a jewel on the top of his head. He wears monastic robes with inner garments, profusely decorated with floral motifs in gold. There is a brilliant aureole behind him with floral gold border. Large jewels are set into the border of the aureole. Graceful leaves and flowers are around his aureole. Dragon and phoenix are depicted on each side of the head of Bhaishajyaguru. The dragon generally represents the strong male yang principle of heaven, energy and creativity. Moreover Dragon is also the guardian of treasure, while phoenix symbolizing longevity. The Medicine Buddha holds myrobalan (arura), a medicinal plant in his right hand and a bowl containing medicinal nuts and leaves in his left hand. Two monks, holding alms bowls and jingling beggar’s staffs are standing either side of the Medicine Buddha’s throne that usually is identified as chief disciples of Shakyamuni (Sariputra and Maudgalyayana). Auspicious peaceful offerings are depicted on two altar tables in front of the throne.

The cult of Medicine Buddha is very popular in Tibet, China, Mongolia, Korea, and Japan. He is also called Bhaisajyaraja, Healing Buddha, Manla, and the Lord of the Physicians. The Medicine Buddha is said to dispense spiritual medicine when properly worshipped. It is popular belief in all these countries that an efficacious cure may be accomplished by merely touching the image of Medicine Buddha. The Bhaishajyaguru dharani emphasizes the healing value of creating an image of the Medicine Buddha as well as chanting the text.

It is said that illness occurs when the balance among the three bodily fluids comprising the human – air, bile, and mucus – is disturbed. Such a disturbance can arise when there is an imbalance in the component parts of fluids, the five elements of earth, water, fire, air, and ether (prana). According to Buddhism, hatred, wanting (desire), and ignorance are the main ailments that torment and poison the body and soul. They disturb the balance of bodily fluids so that illness arises. There are also external influences at work that can negatively impact the body, such as evil spirits, a particular position of the planets, negative karma, improper food, and irreligious behavior. The religious cure is right thinking and acting. Tibetan healthcare comprises a combination of somatic and psycho-philosophical healing. In regard to the former healing method, the doctor gives nutritional advice and administers pills made from minerals and herbs. Moreover meditation is also the part of therapy.

Historically Tibetan medicine is a confluent trinity of Indian Ayurvedic, Hellenic and Chinese traditions of medicine wherein the spatial tangents have met and harmonized.

The Tibetan physicians take initiations to practice the sadhana of the Medicine Buddha, study and memorize many complex medical texts and thangka and concentrates on restoring the balance within the body and the mind. They learn to diagnose of the patient through pulse taking and urine analysis, by learning herbal pharmacology and other treatments, also by studying psychology and apprenticing many years before he or she can practice.

The extended border of this thangka is woven with flowers and Chinese auspicious symbols. This painting of Medicine Buddha is very much suitable for sadhana by laities, physicians, sadhaka and also for suffering beings.

This description is by Dr. Shailendra K. Verma, whose Doctorate thesis is on “Emergence and Evolution of the Buddha Image (From its inception to 8th century A.D.)”.

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Unveiling the Divine Art: Journey into the Making of Thangkas

A Thangka is a traditional Tibetan Buddhist painting that usually depicts a Buddhist Deity (Buddha or Bodhisattva), a scene, or a mandala. These paintings are considered important paraphernalia in Buddhist rituals. They are used to teach the life of the Buddha, various lamas, and Bodhisattvas to the monastic students, and are also useful in visualizing the deity while meditating. One of the most important subjects of thangkas is the Bhavacakra (the wheel of life) which depicts the Art of Enlightenment. It is believed that Thangka paintings were developed over the centuries from the murals, of which only a few can be seen in the Ajanta caves in India and the Mogao caves in Gansu Province, Tibet. Thangkas are painted on cotton or silk applique and are usually small in size. The artist of these paintings is highly trained and has a proper understanding of Buddhist philosophy, knowledge, and background to create a realistic and bona fide painting.

The process of making a thangka begins with stitching a loosely woven cotton fabric onto a wooden frame. Traditionally, the canvas was prepared by coating it with gesso, chalk, and base pigment.

After this, the outline of the form of the deity is sketched with a pencil or charcoal onto the canvas using iconographic grids. The drawing process is followed in accordance with strict guidelines laid out in Buddhist scriptures. The systematic grid helps the artist to make a geometrical and professional painting. When the drawing of the figures is finalized and adjusted, it is then outlined with black ink.

Earlier, a special paint of different colors was made by mixing powdered forms of organic (vegetable) and mineral pigments in a water-soluble adhesive. Nowadays, artists use acrylic paints instead. The colors are now applied to the sketch using the wet and dry brush techniques. One of the characteristic features of a thangka is the use of vibrant colors such as red, blue, black, green, yellow, etc.

In the final step, pure gold is coated over some parts of the thangka to increase its beauty. Due to this beautification, thangkas are much more expensive and also stand out from other ordinary paintings.

Thangka paintings are generally kept unrolled when not on display on the wall. They also come with a frame, a silken cover in front, and a textile backing to protect the painting from getting damaged. Because Thangkas are delicate in nature, they are recommended to be kept in places with no excess moisture and where there is not much exposure to sunlight. This makes them last a long time without their colors fading away. Painting a thangka is an elaborate and complex process and requires excellent skills. A skilled artist can take up to 6 months to complete a detailed thangka painting. In earlier times, thangka painters were lamas that spent many years on Buddhist studies before they painted.