Tibetan Buddhist Guruparampara (Refuge Tree)

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Name: Tibetan Buddhist Guruparampara (Refuge Tree)
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: TM13
Price: 305.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$305

Guruparampara translates to Line of Teachers and usually represents the line of descent of the Nyingma line. The Nyingma school is the oldest in all of Tibetan Buddhism. In most cases, this name is translated to Refuge Tree, which also represents how the image is a refuge for people who believe in the power of gods and teachers to lead them to spiritual enlightenment. The people described in the lineage here include the 8 sons of Mahayana Sangha, 8 supreme ones of Hinayana Sangha, the gurus, Buddhas, and other deities.

This thangka showcases the Refuge Tree in a rich red palette with minimal strokes of gold to outline the important images. The figures of the persons can be seen positioned around a tree in a space that represents the cosmos or cosmic ocean. The tree has been a symbol of creation and life and it gains another deeper meaning in Buddhism when the Buddha himself attained enlightenment under a tee. Moreover, Nyingma Buddhism is founded by Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) who legends say have tamed deities and paved the way for the start of Tantric Buddhism in Tibet. He is seen at the center of the thangka, on a lotus throne, and is usually depicted in yab yum position with his consort. He holds a vajra (a ritual object that holds the strength of a diamond and power of lightning bold) on his right hand while the left-hand holds his consort. He is decked in monk's robes with a hat with a vajra. The main deities on his sides are Avalokiteshvara and Red Tara Kurukulla (both Boddhisattvas of compassion).

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Item Code:	TM13
Specifications:	Tibetan Thangka Painting
Dimensions	Size of Painted Surface 17.5 inches X 26.5 inches Size with Brocade 29.5 inches X 41.5 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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