Bhaishajyaguru (Medicine Buddha), Our Complete Spiritual Apothecary - Brocadeless Thangka

$995
The Bhaishajyaguru roopa of the Buddha is distinctive. From the unmistakable azure of His skin to the healing elements in His hands - the sprig of arura (myrobalan), palm facing outward in blessing, the bowl of ambrosia in the other. His complexion comes from His skylike, all-encompassing wisdom. Myrobalan is the primary ingredient of the major part of Tibetan medicinal compounds as expounded in The Four Tantras Of Secret Instructions On The Eight Branches Of The Essence of Immortality (texts of the age-old Tibetan medical tradition). In His bowl are contained three nectars of resurrection from disease and death, of age-reversal, and of knowledge that illuminates the mind.

Seated in the highly characteristic poorna-padmasana, Bhaishajyaguru is surrounded by the lush Tibetan landscape dotted with medicinal plants and petals. A richly coloured lotus pedestal is His throne, and in His mandala are to be found a clutch of peaceful Buddhist deities. At the core of Tibetan medical philosophy lies the tenet that external medicine has limited application to healing and that the root of all illness is one's inattention to the true nature of self. The reason why Bhaishajyaguru, as you see Him on this page, is our complete spiritual apothecary is because His mandala can be penetrated only after one's discovery of the healing forces within oneself.

Item Code: TN23
Specifications:
Tibetan Thangka Painting
Dimensions Size - 20 inch X 29.5 inch
Handmade
Handmade
Free delivery
Free delivery
Fully insured
Fully insured
100% Made in India
100% Made in India
Fair trade
Fair trade

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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