Tibetan Buddhist God Medicine Buddha

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$221.25

$295

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Bhaisajyaguru, also commonly known as the Medicine Buddha, is revered in Buddhism because he has the power of healing, both physically and spiritually. He is said to cure dukkha or suffering. His pure land is called the Vaiduryanirbhasa or the Pure Land of lapis lazuli. He is typically depicted with blue skin color, consistent with his attribution to the semi-precious gem, lapis lazuli, which is in a rich blue hue. Per tradition, he is pictured seated on a lotus throne. His position is the Dhyana Assan, leg crossed with feet facing upwards.

This thangka pictures him wearing three robes of the traditional monk. He can be seen carrying his jar filled with life-giving and healing nectar and fruit of Aruna which is said to carry many healing benefits. The hand that holds the jar has its palms up, which symbolizes meditative stability. His right hand can be seen reaching down, palms outward as a sign of giving blessings. This hand also holds the stem of an Aruna or Myrobalan plant between his thumb and forefinger which are all symbolic of eradication of suffering by way of the truth. By Buddha tradition he also wears an ushnisha on the head, symbolizing spiritual reliance. On the lower side of the thangka are two attendants, Suryaprabha and Candraprabha, holding elements for the sun and moon. Zoom in on top of the thangka and an image of Shakyamuni Buddha seated on a lotus. On the sides are apsaras, or female spirits in the clouds. The thangka is depicted in a rich red colorway using gold (symbolizing enlightenment and knowledge from its association with the color of the sun).

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Item Code:	TQ62
Specifications:	Tibetan Thangka Painting
Dimensions	Size of Painted Surface 19 inch X 27 inch Size with Brocade 31 inch X 49 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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