Tibetan Buddhist Paramsukha-Chakrasamvara - Blissful Harmony

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Here we see the blue-black Chakrasamvara standing in the dynamic pratyalidha posture - with his left knee bent and the right leg extended. He is surrounded by the flaming aura of his own radiant wisdom and engaged in exquisite union with his female aspect Vajravarahi, symbolizing the blissful harmony of wisdom and compassion, which is the stepping stone to enlightenment. His face is highly intense and his mouth wide open, exposing his fangs which grind up our false illusions nurtured by the ego. The third eye that is capable of viewing the 'ultimate reality' is positioned vertically between his brows. He wears two long garlands, one of small skulls and the other made of freshly severed human heads.

His two arms embrace the red Vajravarahi and cross behind her back in the diamond HUM-sound gesture, simultaneously holding a vajra and a bell, symbols of wisdom and compassion. She too grimaces passionately and fiercely and encircles his neck with her left arm, the skull bowl in it visible behind his head. Her right hand is raised above his shoulder, brandishing a vajra-chopper. She follows his vigorous warrior's pose, but folds her right leg around his thigh.

The combined right leg of Chakrasmavara and the left one of Vajravarahi trample underfoot the male deity Ishvara symbolizing the forces of ignorant hatred. Under Chakrasmavara's left leg lies Kalarati, the goddess who signifies desirous attachment.

At the center-top of the painting can be seen the blue-bodied Dhyani Buddha Akshobhya, in the bhumisparsha mudra. Chakrasamvara is believed to be an emanation of this Dhyani Buddha.

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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.