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Palden Lhamo (Tibetan Buddhist Goddess Who Rides on a Sea of Blood)

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Name: Palden Lhamo (Tibetan Buddhist Goddess Who Rides on a Sea of Blood)
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: TF38
Price: 280.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$210

$280

(25% off)

Palden Lhamo is a Dharmapala or wrathful deity who also has the role of the Protector of Wisdom. She is traditionally depicted riding her horse over a sea of blood. She usually rides with her son (seen in this thangka with head dangling upside down). In looking at the iconography and symbolism, it is said that three levels of understanding are usually in place. The outer level understands her as a warrior who fought Lanks, a demon king. The inner level, on the other hand, delves into the symbolic meaning of the path to enlightenment. While the secret level is only thought to the order and involves the mystical practice of Tantric yoga. In this thangka, Palden Lhamo is depicted with one face and two arms. A quick zoom on her mouth will show that she has the demon of mental negativities which represents crushing the demon with fangs of mindfulness and diligence.

Her windswept hair symbolizes blazing fire (wisdom) and its power to burn worldly knowledge (vikpala). The crown features five skulls that represent the five afflictions (anger, greed, pride, ignorance, and jealousy). A third eye is also present that signifies the power to see in the past, present, and future. Zoom in on her navel and a symbol of the sun is present while atop her head is the peacock parasol that marks ultimate enlightenment. Her hands hold a skull cup filled with the blood and brain ruined by confusion and superstition. His right hand has a trident with a skull which symbolizes the tool to conquer death. A closer look at his ensemble shows him sporting tiger and snakeskin that marks his victory over fear. The hide of her mule also shows a single eye that represents the power to see the unseen. The imagery on top of the mule is rich with elements such as severed heads, body parts, weapons, and more which all stand for Palden Lhamo’s ability to transform obstacles to pursue enlightenment. The ocean of blood is also symbolic of the cycle of samsara (blood being vital in death and rebirth) and this shows Palden Lhamo being able to cross such a red ocean—a signal that those who follow her have the chance to stop the cycle of samsara and find nirvana.

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Item Code:	TF38
Specifications:	Tibetan Thangka Painting
Dimensions	Size of Painted Surface 14.5 inch X 19.5 inch Size with Brocade 27.5 inch X 43 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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