Vajra Mandala Within A Vajra Mandala

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Name: Vajra Mandala Within A Vajra Mandala
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: TJ21
Price: 135.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$135

The vajra is an auspicious, highly symbolic object in Buddhism. It could mean either thunderbolt or diamond, and in traditional visual art takes the shape of a quadruple phurpa (Tibetan multi-headed dagger). The thangka that you see on this page is of a mandala, at the heart of which lies the all-important vajra. From its yin-yang centre protrudes four three-pronged ends at right angles to each other, each in the shape of a trishoola (trident). Strokes of crimson set off the solid gold colour of the body of the vajra.

The vajra is painted on a diskette of solid black colour. The space between its sharp ends are dotted with gold paint, while the entire vajra is surrounded by a circlet of gold petals filled in with black. Solid gold lotus petals surround the central motif, hints of a black gradient at the base of every petal lending it a three-dimensional finish. From the circumference of these lotus petals, in keeping with the directions in which the ends of the centremost vajra point, are the ends of a gigantic vajra. Diamond-shaped panels featuring floral motifs as well as deified chakshurindriya surround the central ensemble described hitherto. The ample black space between these panels are inscribed with the fundamental om-mani-padme-hum mantra. The letters are miniscule and arranged in uniform lines in keeping with the shape of the mandala.

Note the concentric series of petals that define this mandala. Given its striking resemblance to the concentric circles within as well as the motifs within, this thangka is of a mandala within a mandala.

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Item Code:	TJ21
Specifications:	Tibetan Buddhist Thangka Painting
Dimensions	Size of Painted Surface - 20 inch X 20 inch Size with Brocade - 30 inch X 35.5 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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