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Adi-Buddha Vajrasattva (Tibetan Buddhist)

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Name: Adi-Buddha Vajrasattva (Tibetan Buddhist)
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: TQ38
Price: 295.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$221.25

$295

(25% off)

Adi-Buddha translates to “First Buddha”. This term may apply to someone who is believed to be the first to attain enlightenment or Buddhahood because Adi means “first” or “primordial”. In Mahayana Buddhism, Adi Buddha represents the universe as the source of enlightenment and even the representation of the Trikaya that says that a Buddha has 3 bodies (kaya), one each for Truth, for enjoyment, and the emanation or created body. Vajrasattva is also associated with purification practice. He is also notable for his association with the 100-syllable mantra used mainly to purify the mind (especially before performing any tantric activities).

Consistent with tradition, this thangka of Vajrasattva is represented while being seated on a crescent-mon shaped seat on a lotus platform. He is usually drawn with a five-leaf crown. His clothing is also that of a Dhyani-Bodhisattva (a bodhisattva or meditation). In this case, the colorway used in his clothing and halos around him complements the details of the lotus throne and plants within the painting. His right hand is raised to his chest while holding a vajra, which means thunderbolt or diamond in Sanskrit. It is a ritual tool that represents the indestructibility of a diamond and the powerful force of a thunderbolt, which then represents the power and firmness of the Spirit. In his left hand near his hip is a bell. A close look at this painting also shows his back slightly turned to the left and his face a picture of serenity and calm. Vajrasattva is a form of Vajradhara that is a representation of the peaceful Buddha.

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Item Code:	TQ38
Specifications:	Tibetan Thangka Painting
Dimensions	Size of Painted Surface 13.5 inch X 17.5 inch Size with Brocade 25 inch X 42 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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