Vajrabhairava (Yamantaka) in Father-Mother Union

$275
Item Code: TG06
Specifications:
Tibetan Thangka Painting
Dimensions 18.5" x 29.0"
Handmade
Handmade
Free delivery
Free delivery
Fully insured
Fully insured
100% Made in India
100% Made in India
Fair trade
Fair trade
Yamantaka, the ferocious emanation of Manjushri (Bodhisattva of wisdom), is the most complicated and terrible of all the wrathful Buddhist divinities. Under this from he conquered the demon king of death, Yama, who was depopulating Tibet in his insatiable thirst for victims. Thus Yamantaka symbolizes the victory of wisdom over death, death being associated with ignorance by Buddhists.

Also known as Vajrabhairava or the Diamond Terrifier, the form of Yamantaka shown here has associations with the Hindu deity Mahabhairava, himself the special form of Shiva, who destroys the universe at the end of the eon. Indeed, Yamantaka's eyes and eyebrows are said to be aflame (as in this artwork), like the cosmic fire at the end of the universe. The Buddhist Yamantaka Tantras coalesce aspects of the two deities (Yama and Shiva) into the cult of Vajrabhairava, which later developed great significance in Tibetan Buddhism.

This thangka presents his very complex iconography consisting of nine faces - including the central buffalo-head with three faces on either side and two on top. The top-most head is that of the peaceful Manjushri, who is said to be Yamantaka's spiritual father. Also, at the top of the painting can be seen Tsongkhapa, who too is closely related to the lineage of Manjushri.

Yamantaka's thirty-four arms are arrayed like a mandala around him. His main implements are the vajra-chopper and skull-cup which he holds in the two main hands in front of his heart. He has sixteen legs. Under the right legs he tramples various animals and below the left feet are different birds. Each of these groups of animals in their turn further reside upon divine beings.

In this extremely powerful representation Yamantaka holds his consort Vajravetali (Diamond Zombie) in the blissful physical union that symbolizes the synthesis of wisdom and compassion. The two embracing deities are encircled by an expressively delineated ring of flames, shaded from an ochre color to light orange and red, and edged in gold lines.

The expression on the two central deities as also the majority of the deities surrounding them are extremely animated and lend much to the vibrant liveliness yet sombre mood of this energetic painting.

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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