Towards an Aesthetic of Nirvana

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On a full-blown lotus sits the primordial Buddha known as Vajradhara. The name Vajradhara means "holder of the vajra [thunderbolt]," and since the vajra is the quintessential symbol of Tibetan Buddhism it is obvious that we are in the presence of a particularly empowered form. Indeed, Buddhist aesthetics seeks in Vajradhara a personification of the intangible concept of enlightenment (satori or kensho in Japanese), which is realized in the following manner:

1). Vajradhara holds the vajra in his right hand and the bell in his left. His hands are crossed at the wrists, a gesture symbolizing the union of compassion and wisdom which is necessary to reach enlightenment. The vajra represents the compassion of the Buddha, the masculine principle; and the bell represents wisdom, the female principle. To achieve enlightenment, these two principles must combine, or in other words, all notions of duality are swept away by the unifying winds of Nirvana.

2). Vajradhara is blue in color, like the infinite sky. This is expressive of the fact that enlightenment is but a realization of emptiness or nothingness known in Sanskrit as 'Shunyta (zeroness).'

3). Vajradhara is supremely beautiful. So is enlightenment. Like Vajradhara, it is both sublime and mystical.

4). The deity is seated here on the six-ornament throne of enlightenment, a privilege reserved in Buddhist art for only those who have reached the ultimate shelter of Nirvana.

Thus is the spiritual goal of achieving in physical 'form,' the abstract concept of enlightenment, achieved.

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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.