Bodhisattva Manjshri, The Bodhisattva Of Ekavyooha Samadhi

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The Bodhisattva of ekavyooha samadhi, Lord Manjushri is the oldest Bodhisattva in the literature of Mahayana Buddhism. Mention of this gentle (‘manju’) and harmonious (‘shri’) deity could be found in the Prajnaparamita sootras as well as in the Vimalakirti sootras. Indeed gentleness and harmony characterise the image of the Bodhisattva Manjushri as could be seen in this Tibetan thangka.

His long, lotus-stalk body bears the complexion of crushed wild olives. A garment of red silk clothes Him below the navel, while a sea of red, green, and blue sashes grace His torso. High above His crowned head He raises the flaming blue sword, which He would bring down any moment now upon the head of ignorance and illusion. A ferocious lion of the mountains bears the Bodhisattva on its back. Its pristine body contrasts sharply with the dull gold of its thick mane. From the composure of its countenance to the landscape of the backdrop, these are the typical elements of the Tibetan Buddhist thangka style of painting. Note the sheer gradations of the cool blue skies in the distance.

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Item Code:	TZ57
Specifications:	Tibetan Thangka Painting
Dimensions	Size - 8 inches X 10 inches

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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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