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Tibetan Buddhist Vaishravana (Kubera)

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Name: Tibetan Buddhist Vaishravana (Kubera)
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: TY83
Price: 95.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$95

Vaishravana is one of the Four Heavenly Kings. He is a primary figure in Tibetan Buddhism and most notably in Japanese Buddhism. India's Lokopalas lends the idea of the Buddhist Four Heavenly Kings, four entities that watch over the world from each direction of the world. In Hinduism, Vaisharavana is called Kubera, the god of wealth. Vaishravana means “he who hears everything” and is considered the king of kings and governor of the north. This painting of Vaishravana depicts him in a seated position which looks to be his home in the north quadrant (in the lower half) of Mt. Meru, the center of the spiritual universe). His right foot rests on a lotus flower and a conch shell, two main symbols in Buddhism.

True to tradition, this painting depicts Vaishravana with a golden face and skin. He usually carries a parasol as a sign of sovereignty but in this Tibetan interpretation, he is holding a citron. This a fruit from the jambhara tree, a play on his other name, Jambhala. The citron, instead of the umbrella, is a good way to distinguish Vaishravana from Kuvera. The mongoose animal which is drawn ejecting jewels from its mouth which a symbol of generosity and the defeat over Nagas, the snake guardians of wealth. He is also usually depicted in opulent green clothing and a golden body to symbolize his wealth. His attitude toward wealth is considered as freeing, as it is a way to bestow prosperity and giving and focus more on the spiritual journey rather than materialism.

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Item Code:	TY83
Specifications:	Tibetan Thangka Painting
Dimensions	Size of Painted Surface 10.5 inch X 14.7 inch Size with Brocade 20.5 inch X 35 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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