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Mahaparinirvana Buddha

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Name: Mahaparinirvana Buddha
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: TZ87
Price: 400.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$345

$460

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Only 1 available

On a raised platform laid over with a stretch of saffron-coloured silk lies the Buddha. The brocaded robe and sashes on His person are indicative of His absolute glory as opposed to material well-being.

The composure of His handsome, aged countenance is one of equanimity stemming from profound wisdom. In sharp contrast to the same is the collective stance of the disciples who surround His deathbed - upon the final moments of their beloved teacher, they are breaking down in inconsolable grief.

Mahaparinirvana is the final stage in the life of the Buddha. It is His moment of transition from the earthly to the ethereal, from the seemingly material to the purely absolute, from life to liberation.

The superbly detailed thangka that you see on this page depicts Sage Gautama as he lies on one side, surrounded by disciples who have come from all over the world to be with Him at this stage.

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Specifications

	TZ87
	Tibetan Thangka Painting
	21.1 inch x 15.7 inch

Delivery and Return Policies

	Ships in 1-3 days
	Returns and Exchanges accepted within 7 days
	Free Delivery

Easy Returns

Return within 7 days of
order delivery.See T&Cs

Fully Insured

All orders are fully insured
to ensure peace of mind.

100% Handmade

All products are
MADE IN INDIA.

From the garments on each of the figures in this painting to the elements of nature and architecture, this composition bears all the signs of Buddhist devotional art. The first thing that occurs to the discerning art viewer is the sheer number of stoopas in the foreground. They are an inimitable pristine colour that reflects the cerulean heavens above. Hints of a deep blue stream are to be found amidst the same, punctuating the pale-coloured verdure of the Himalayan landscape. Along the midline of the painting is a luxuriant canopy surrounded by crimson clouds, symbolic of the Bodhi tree of the Buddha.

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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