Superfine Tibetan Buddhist Deity Manjushri Seated on Lion - Brocadeless Thangka in Newari Style

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Name: Superfine Tibetan Buddhist Deity Manjushri Seated on Lion - Brocadeless Thangka in Newari Style
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: TZ35
Price: 895.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$895

Manjushri is known to be a Bodhisattva of transcendent wisdom. It is believed that he hails from the group of Dhyani Bodhisattva. He is generally represented like a prince decked up in Bodhisattva ornaments. In this brocade less Thangka he is seated on lion so he can be also named as ‘Manjughosa’. When Lord Buddha evoked a golden ray from his forehead it struck a jambu-tree and as a result, lotus sprang from the tree and from that lotus prince of sages, Manjushri was born.

The color of Manjushri’s body is yellow and he is majestically seated on a lion. A roseate halo surrounds the crown lying on the head of a lord which is slightly tilted towards left. He has a sword in his right hand to erase the ignorance that obstructs the way of his devotees in gaining enlightenment and on a left shoulder rests a blue color lotus on which lies a small book, a symbol of transcendent wisdom. It is a manuscript of ‘Prajnaparamita’. The upper torso is adorned with beautiful ornaments and the thread of life while the waist is covered with superfine garments. He is seated in the position called ‘lalitasana’ wherein his left leg rests on a flower and the other leg bends from the knee and rests on the back of the lion who is looking in the direction of the lord. He is seated on the pistil of full-bloomed lotus. One can see the plethora of lotuses in different colors and sizes in a view behind the lord.

The landscape around the lord is very picturesque. There is an idyllic lake surrounded with mountains and dark deep-colored clouds against the deep blue sky are astounding. The traditional Tibetan motifs on the border of the painting enhance its beauty. The vast palette of rich, bright, and colorful colors captures the essence of the theme.

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Item Code:	TZ35
Specifications:	Tibetan Thangka Painting
Dimensions	Size - 20 inches X 25.5 inches

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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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