Super Large Mandala of Gautam Buddha - Tibetan Buddhist

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

Name: Super Large Mandala of Gautam Buddha - Tibetan Buddhist
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: TJ11
Price: 595.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$595

Gautama Buddha, or Siddharta Gautama, is the founder of Buddhism. His narrative follows him leaving his kingdom after knowing about suffering, leading him to the pursuit of enlightenment. He also began preaching his views as he traveled where he gained the sangha or a community of monks. The members of the sangha then carried mandalas with them to help them teach about living life to reach enlightenment. This thangka is packed with figures and symbols, fitting for the inspiring life and journey of the first Buddha. The Buddha can be seen at the very center, the starting point, and the beginning of contemplation. From that circle, a series of lines and patterns branch out, pervading the rest of the thangka, which represents the cycle of life.

This thangka is packed with a lot of figures, colors, and symbols. Some of them include lotus flowers all over. These flowers are often seen in a symmetric pattern symbolizing balance and purity. The Buddha also sits on a pink lotus, a color of the flower reserved for the highest of deities in Buddhism. The scenes from the central circle are also depicted it the medium and smaller circles all over the thangka. Golden rays can also be seen emanating from the circular sections, representing the universe and the energy and light brought by enlightenment. Look closely at each golden ring and the design is filled with auspicious elements within a large square (the gates) in which the gods dwell. Also within the thangka are masters and Yogis. Deities like Amitabha or the Buddha of Limitless Life and light as well as the white Tara also appear in the thangka.

Notify me when this item is available

Specifications

	TJ11
	Tibetan Buddhist Thangka Painting
	Dimensions: Size of Painted Surface 28.2 inch X 41 inch Size with Brocade 38 inch X 59 inch

Delivery and Return Policies


	Returns and Exchanges accepted with 7 days
	Free Delivery

Easy Returns

Return within 7 days of
order delivery.See T&Cs

Fully Insured

All orders are fully insured
to ensure peace of mind.

100% Handmade

All products are
MADE IN INDIA.

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.

Products related to this item