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Gautam Buddha (Tibetan Buddhist)

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Name: Gautam Buddha (Tibetan Buddhist)
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: TI60
Price: 195.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$195

Gautama Buddha, also Shakyamuni Buddha, is the founder of Buddhism. He was born in India where he was a crown prince until he learned about suffering in this world and set on a spiritual journey to enlightenment. When he finally achieved enlightenment, he gave his first sermon (turning of the Dharmachakra, or the wheel of the law), whose symbol will be prevalent in most Buddhist art that followed.

This thangka depicts Gautam Buddha in his iconic form. This pose showcases the moment where he became enlightened. He can be seen in a seated lotus-position (cross-legged with ankles and soles turned upwards), back straight, on a moon disc (calm and peaceful state) on top of a lotus. The lotus throne is multicolored and is an important element in Buddhism which symbolizes purity amidst a murky environment. His robes are opulent with a lotus motif, too. His right hand extends to an earth-touching mudra, which represents Buddha calling the earth his witness when he reached enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. The left hand is in meditation mudra, palm upward, with his begging bowl. On his head us protuberance, which is a sign of wisdom among Buddhas. His earlobes are elongated, as a sign of his enlightenment and ability to listen to the sounds of the universe. On his forehead is an urna, an auspicious mark that shows his ability to see the divine. His skin is gold which also marks his enlightenment and his lips pink, to see symbolize the wisdom that passes through his mouth.

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Item Code:	TI60
Specifications:	Tibetan Thangka Painting
Dimensions	Size of Painted Surface 14.5 inch X 19 inch Size with Brocade 24 inch X 41.5 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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