The Mandala of Everlasting Bliss

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

$325

Quantity

Notify me when this item is available

Item Code:	TL64
Specifications:	Tibetan Thangka Painting
Dimensions	Size of Painted Surface 13.0" X 19.5" Size with Brocade 24.0" X 34.0"

Handmade

Free delivery

Fully insured

100% Made in India

Fair trade

This esoteric black thangka portrays the mandala of goddess White Tara, who grants a long life to her devotees. She symbolizes perfect purity, and is believed to represent Transcendent wisdom, which secures everlasting bliss to its possessor. She helps practitioner overcome obstacles, particularly hindrances in the practice of dharma. White Tara also grants wishes and protects her devotees from danger and distress. She looks after the good of all beings. She is the consort of Avalokiteshvara. White Tara has seven eyes which symbolizes the capacity to see all those in need in all four corners of the earth. In Nepal the goddess is popularly known as Sapta-Lochani-Tara or Seven-Eye Tara. It is generally believed that if a being utter her name Tara audibly or inaudibly with sincerity of purpose they may obtain mystical insight and spontaneously acquire the ability for visualizing all mundane problems in their right perspective. Moreover goddess Tara ferries across all devoted children through the stormy ocean of mundane existence. Goddess Tara is popularly worshipped in Tibet, Nepal, Mongolia, China, Japan, and Korea and in many more countries. There is a legend about the birth of Tara, it is said that Avalokiteshvara once spilled two tears to earth out of pure despair over muddleheaded humanity. Each tear formed a lake in which a lotus grew. When the lotuses opened, there was a Tara in the centre of each. The tear from his left eye produced the dark-coloured Green Tara, the one from his right eye produced White Tara. Tara became one of the most popular deities of Tibet after her two principal forms, White and Green, were assimilated to the wives of the first great Tibetan emperor, Sron-btsan- sgam-po. In Tibet ceremonies of Tara are an integral part of Karmpa rituals. Her mandalas are worshipped from third to ninth of every month. On auspicious days there are special services to White Tara. In the daily ritual practices of the most important monasteries, at seven in the morning takes place the meditation on the mandala of Tara, this includes the recitation of her sadhana texts. The Tibetan pray to her for long life, for human, life is infinitely precious. The ultimate goal of Buddhahood can be attained by striving in this human body.

In the present thangka White Tara is seated in vajraparyankasana on a lotus throne in the inner circle of the mandala which rests on crossed vajra. There is a rhombus outside the centre circle decorated with geometric designs. The mandala has an outer circle of fire fence protecting the inner residence which is stylistically rendered here. The circle of fire fence is followed by a circle of great five elements earth (mountains and rock formation), water (lakes), fire (wisdom fire), space (sky) and air (cloud formation). This circle is followed by a circle of lotus petals. Here the spiritual realm begins and one enters the mandala.

Across the top of the painting are Padmasambhava seated in the upper left corner, Shakyamuni Buddha in the centre and Tsongkhapa in the upper right corner. The foreground depicts brilliantly drawn mountains, high peaks, covered with snow, lakes and natural vegetation etc. Amitayus the Buddha of Long-Life is seated in the lower left corner, while Ushnishvijaya, the goddess of Long-Life in lower right corner. The bottom centre depicts auspicious peaceful offerings. The extended brocade of the painting depicts lotuses and Chinese good luck symbol shou. All the figures are brilliantly drawn. The painting is very much suitable for sadhana and practices.

This description is by Dr. Shailendra K. Verma, whose Doctorate thesis is on "Emergence and Evolution of the Buddha Image (From its inception to 8th century A.D.)".

Click Here to View the Thangka Painting along with its Brocade

Free Shipping. Delivered by

to all international destinations within 3 to 5 days, fully insured.

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.

Products related to this item