Tiebtan Buddhist God Manjushri

$240
Manjushri is best known in Mahayana Buddhism as the Bodhisattva of wisdom. Bodhisattvas are Buddhas-to-be or those close to the reaching Enlightenment. His name translates to Gentle or Sweet Glory in Sanskrit. He is said to be one of the most renowned and closest pupils of Buddha Shakyamuni. Per tradition, he is usually depicted as a Dhyani-Bodhisattva, thus he can be seen wearing princely garb and accessories, as seen in this thangka painted. When painted hi is colored yellow, and this thangka complemented his yellow skin with warm tones for the clouds and backdrop. He is also pictured on a seating position on top of a multicolored lotus throne.

Manjushri’s depiction in the art typically shows him wielding a fiery sword on his right hand. This is called the Sword of Manjushri, or the sword the cuts the duality and ignorance. It is drawn with a fire on the blade, which can symbolize how cutting the bad sides of worldly knowledge can also aide the darkness it brings. On his left hand, he holds a blue lotus, another symbol of wisdom. The said lotus then offers a bed for the Prajnaparamita or the Perfection of (Transcendent) Wisdom scripture. This book discusses the ideal way of viewing the nature of reality. His left hand is in a Vitarka (lesson-teaching) mudra or positon. Pink lotus can be seen in the thangka— on the throne and the petals lifting the holy book—as it the Pink Lotus represents the Buddha himself and is used to regard only the highest deities. The mountain ranges at his back are said to represent the Wu Tai Shan, a sacred mountain believed to have been visited and dwelled on by Manjushri.

Item Code: TY10
Specifications:
Tibetan Thangka Painting
Dimensions Size of Painted Surface 14.5 inch X 19.5 inch
Size with Brocade 24 inch X 42 inch
Handmade
Handmade
Free delivery
Free delivery
Fully insured
Fully insured
100% Made in India
100% Made in India
Fair trade
Fair trade

Click Here to View the Thangka Painting along with its Brocade

 

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.
Image
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.
Image
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.
Image
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.
Image
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.
Add a review
Have A Question

For privacy concerns, please view our Privacy Policy