Mahayana Bodhisattva Vajrasattva

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At the center of the artwork is Vajrasattva, seated in padmasana on a high, multi-pedestal floating lotus throne. Sattva means a 'sentient being,' and vajra of course is the quintessential symbol of Tibetan Buddhism, representing its indestructible power. His right hand holds a five-pronged vajra, which symbolizes the five Dhyani Buddhas. Here it is interesting to observe that Vajrasattva is considered by some to be the sixth Dhyani Buddha and the priest of the group. His left hand is placed on the corresponding thigh, holding a vajra-ghanta (bell). When paired with each other, these two ritual implements take on an added significance. The vajra represents the compassion of the Buddha, the masculine principle; and the bell symbolizes wisdom, the female principle. To achieve creative enlightenment, these two elements must be combined. The bell is visualized as the Buddha's body, the vajra as his mind. The sound of the bell is believed to be the Buddha's speech in teaching of the dharma.

During meditation on Vajrasattva, a vajra is placed on the chest of the practitioner, meaning that Vajrasattva is brought to the meditator, and they become one and inseparable. Ringing a bell then represents the sound of Buddha teaching the dharma and symbolizes the attainment of wisdom and the understanding of emptiness.

Vajrasattva's body is slender and lissom. His neck has three folds, which are derived from the auspicious conch shell blown at Buddhist ceremonies, and which signify the sweetness of his own speech. The sensitive and thin red lips lend a pleasant character to the facial expression, while the five-pronged crown and the numerous jewels adorning his from celebrate his pre-eminent status in the Buddhist pantheon, a fact which is reaffirmed by the rainbow aureole in the background.

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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.