Tibetan Buddhist Mandala of Heruka in Yab Yum

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$325

Heruka is one of the main deities of the Fifty-eight wrathful deities. Heruka is a name of wrathful deities known throughout Vajrayana Buddhism and is typically depicted with ferocious expressions. He is also the wrathful aspect of Buddha Samantabhadra, a primordial Buddha. Although they have forms that appear wrathful, they symbolize bliss and emptiness which are required for enlightenment. He is usually depicted with multiple heads and arms. In this thangka, the central image has nine heads and eighteen hands while the other forms of Heruka on the sides depict images with various quantities of limbs.

He is seen in yab yum position with his consort, Namshyalma. She traditionally holds a vajra weapon and a skull cap. This union represents the marrying of the male essence of compassion and skill with the female essence of enlightenment and insight. Heruka also sports a tiger skin on his clothing as a sign of power. The circle he is in is designed with elements of flames, which can signify the transformative power of fire to enlighten. The whole thangka uses primarily red and orange paint of a fiery finish. Around him in the central concentric circle are a Buddha and bodhisattvas believed to be from the higher realms. At the bottom appears to be images of Yamantaka, the conqueror of death, stepping on a buffalo.

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Item Code:	TX54
Specifications:	Tibetan Thangka Painting
Dimensions	Size of Painted Surface 20.0 inch X 28.0 inch Size with Brocade 29.0 inch X 44.0 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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