The Thousand Arms of Compassion

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

Romio Shrestha

Standing resplendent against a black background is Avalokiteshvara, displaying his ten-headed, thousand-armed form. The eleven heads signify the eight directions as well as the three vertical divisions of top, middle, and bottom. This manifestation of Avalokiteshvara is thought to have been influenced by the eleven manifestations of the popular Hindu god Shiva, known as the ekadasha (eleven) Rudras. The Buddhist myth that explains the origin of this complex image stresses the universal compassion that this deity embodies. It is said that once he was so moved by the sufferings of sentient beings that his head split into ten pieces. The Buddha Amitabha turned each of them into a complete head and, added his own at the apex and, hence, the number eleven. Avalokiteshvara was therefore able to watch over all the ten directions at once.

As per his usual iconography, the heads are arranged in a pyramid with three rows, ten of the heads are benign and one is ferocious, representing Avalokiteshvara's wrathful form, which is capped by the serene head of Amitabha.

The first two arms of Avalokiteshvara hold a wish-fulfilling gem, a symbol of the deepest powers of the human psyche. The next five hold a lotus, a vase, a rosary, a wheel. and a bow and arrow. The eighth holds the palm open in a gesture of generosity. The remaining 992 arms are placed like an aureole around the bodhisattva. Each of the hands has an eye in its palm, symbolic of his all encompassing compassion.

Of Related Interest:

Eleven Headed Thousand Armed Avalokiteshvara (Tibetan Thangka Painting)

Eleven Headed Thousand Armed Avalokiteshvara (Brass Statue)

Eleven Headed Thousand Armed Avalokiteshvara (Antiquated Sterling Silver Pendant)

Eleven Headed Avalokitesvara Chenresigs, Kuan-yin, or Kannon Bodhisattva: Its Origin and Iconography (Book)

The Bodhisattva Ideal: Buddhism and the Aesthetics of Selflessness (Article)

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.