Thousand Buddhas Wall with (Tibetan Buddhist) Shakyamuni in the Centre Seated on Six-ornament Throne of Enlightenment

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Name: Thousand Buddhas Wall with (Tibetan Buddhist) Shakyamuni in the Centre Seated on Six-ornament Throne of Enlightenment
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: TX33
Price: 155.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$155

The narrative says that Siddharta Gautama, the first Buddha, said that the life he was lived at the time he became Enlightened was only one of his many lifetimes. His was a life of many previous existences. Such experiences were immortalized in the Jataka tales, detailing the births and rebirth of the Buddha in human and animal form. Mahayana Buddhism even posits that the Shakyamuni’s life period covers up to 5,000 years, after which, Maitreya’s period will flourish. As time progresses, Buddhism grew many schools. Many various Buddhas have since been recognized. Many portrayals of Buddhas can be seen in temples or art pieces. The theme in this thangka showcases the thousand-Buddha imagery, which is well known all over the Buddhist tradition. It signifies not only strength in numbers and belief but also represents the endless movement of a prayer wheel.

At the center of this piece is the Shakyamuni Buddha who sits on a Six-Ornament Throne (for enlightenment). His right hand is his iconic earth-touching mudra which signaling the moment he became enlightened. The thangka uses a red and gold palette, which can universally represent wealth (red) and enlightenment (gold). Two other figures appear below him, his trusted student Shariputra and Maudgalyayana. In between the two followers are the intertwined forms of the Asthamangala. These sacred suits and their symbolisms are the conch (sound of dharma), endless knot (unity of all things), pair of fish (sacred rivers), lotus (purity), a parasol (protection), vase (health), dharmachakra (wheel of law), victory banner (victory over four hindrances to enlightenment).

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Item Code:	TX33
Specifications:	Tibetan Thangka Painting
Dimensions	Size of Painted Surface 15.5 inch X 20 inch Size with Brocade 26 inch X 37 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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