The Life of Buddha You Always Wanted (Brocadeless Thangka)

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Name: The Life of Buddha You Always Wanted (Brocadeless Thangka)
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: PAA725
Price: 2490.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$2490

(Masterpiece From The Collection of Rajendra Raj Bajracharya)

“Ehi passikka”- see for yourself, was one of Buddha’s messages to the world. Not blind faith, but the firmness of belief in experiencing the powers of enlightenment was his way of calling upon initiates into the sacred fold of Buddhism, and interacting with the legends of Buddha’s birth and life is the simplest way, to” see for yourself”, the path that one needs to walk on to achieve the supreme wisdom.

Buddha’s Life in Thangka painting tradition is thus a message and visual sermon to all. In this magnificently delineated Thangka, with the use of classical hues and perfected iconography, the artist has unveiled the life of Buddha.

In the center of the painting is Shakyamuni in Dhyana on a throne, with a splendid aureole surrounding his form.

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Specifications

	PAA725
	WATER COLOR ON COTTON
	Dimensions: 55.90 inch Height X 36.20 inch Width

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The entire canvas is filled with the majesty of Buddha, depicted through different scenes from his life. On the left half, for example, are the episodes of the prophecy before Siddhartha’s birth, the birth of Shakya prince in the grooves of Lumbini, with Maya holding the branch of a tree and baby Siddhartha taking the legendary seven steps, while being consecrated by Indra. In the center is the episode of Mahaparinirvana, showing Buddha lying down, while underneath is the instance of Buddha’s victory over the forces of Mara. In this way, the space in the canvas has been optimally used to narrate the legends of Buddha in the most riveting visual idiom.

The Thangka is outlined by an intricate border, filled with auspicious signs from Buddhism, and vibrant shades, popularly employed in traditional Thangka and Buddhist paintings. Carrying the profound tale of Buddha and his becoming, this Thangka is the simplest yet most potent means to begin one’s journey to Nirvana.

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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