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Buddha's Life Thangka (With Brocade)

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A Thangka presenting a story from the life of Buddha is made up of many panels, or concentric circles, each telling a story from important incidents known as the "Jataka tales." These stories describe Siddhartha Gautama's past incarnations before achieving Nirvana. The following is a synopsis of the 12 major episodes that are depicted in a conventional Thangka:

Birth: Siddhartha's birth in Lumbini, with Queen Maya holding the branch of a sal tree.

Renunciation: The young prince's departure from the palace, leaving behind his luxurious life to seek spiritual understanding.

The Great Departure: Siddhartha's journey as an ascetic, symbolized by matted hair and austere practices.

The Enlightenment Tree: Under the Bodhi tree, Siddhartha achieved enlightenment, symbolized by the serene figure meditating with the Bodhi tree in the background.

Defeating Mara: The confrontation with Mara, the tempter, and Siddhartha's victory over desire and ignorance.

The First Sermon: Siddhartha delivered his first sermon in Deer Park, known as the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, teaching the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

Miracles: Displaying miracles to skeptics to reinforce the Dharma.

The Taming of Nalagiri: Calming the intoxicated elephant Nalagiri, showcases Siddhartha's compassion even towards beings in distress

The Monkey King Offering Honey: A tale of generosity, where a monkey offers honey to Siddhartha during his meditation.

The Miracle of Shravasti: Siddhartha performs a miracle to subdue the arrogance of non-believers.

Parinirvana: The final departure from the earthly life, symbolized by the reclining Buddha representing the state of Nirvana.

Dharmachakra Parinirvana: The turning of the wheel of Dharma, symbolizing the continuous cycle of teachings for the benefit of all sentient beings.

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Item Code:	CAA903
Specifications:	PURE 24 CARAT GOLD, ACRYLIC PAINT
Dimensions	SIZE OF PAINTED SURFACE 33.1 INCH X 23.2 INCH SIZE WITH BROCADE 57.1 INCH X 41.3 INCH

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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.

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