Spirit Of Enlightenment Mandala

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Rs.135

The sacred hum symbol is at the heart of this mandala. Thick, white strokes of the brush against a scarlet-coloured circlet. Painted in the Tibetan script, it is the final syllable of the Shadakshari Avalokiteshvara mantra, which is extracted from the Mahayana Karandavyuhasootra and is considered the moola (fundamental) mantra of Buddhism. Against the cobalt blue of the surrounding circle, its sacred syllables are inscribed in delicate gold letters. It reads om mani padme hum.

Around the blue-and-scarlet pistil are flame-coloured petals totalling eight in number. Eight is a significant number - on the surface of each petal is painted one of the all-important ashtamangala symbols. Ashtamangala is a portmanteau of the Sanskrt words ‘ashta’ (eight) and ‘mangala’ (auspiciousness) and comprises, among other things, the infinity knot and the conch and the lotus. Solid blue and pink petals complete the image of the lotus.

A deep blue gradient fills up the circular space between the petals and the concentric gold diskettes. The same is superimposed with sacred Tibetan letters and miniature motifs in dense gold colour. The inner edge of the mandala is packed with lotus petal motifs infused with green and crimson, while the outer edge features a complex, filigree-like handiwork. Framed by natural bouquets of gold and pink, such a mandala thangka would be a colourful addition to the personal space of any devotee.

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Item Code:	TP20
Specifications:	Tibetan Buddhist Thangka Painting
Dimensions	Size of Painted Surface - 18 inch X 18 inch Size with Brocade 28.5 inch X 34 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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