Bodhisattva Manjushri

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A Bodhisattva is a Buddha-aspect or a person on the way to Buddhahood. Manjushri is perhaps one of the most renowned Bodhisattvas. He is also commonly known as one of the closest followers of Buddha Shakyamuni. He is also one of Mahayana Buddhism’s most important Boddhisatvas. Manjushri is said to be the embodiment of prajna (transcendent wisdom). Sutras have been created for him as early as AD 250, but experts say he has not been depicted in art before AD 400. When art pieces began including him as a subject, he is usually drawn wearing princely articles of clothing. His right hand is holding a sword of wisdom while his left-hand holds a stem of the lotus plant. In this thangka, he is shown having yellow skin and wears garments and robes fitting to a prince, as consistent with tradition.

His most iconic aspect mostly depicts him holding a flaming sword. This sword is used to cut down the duality and ignorance and is the symbolism for wisdom. At the same time, the flame does not only cut the worst of worldly knowledge but also casts off the darkness it brings. On his other hand is another feature of his iconography: the lotus stem bearing a manuscript or a book. The lotus is also blue which is a symbol of the victory over the senses, also symbolizing intelligence and wisdom. This book is the prajnaparamita, The Perfection of (Transcendent) Wisdom. In this painting, he is seen sitting on a lotus throne, the lotus being the symbol of purity and compassion in Buddhism. The pink lotus also signals Manjushri as one of the highest deities in Buddhism, as pink lotus is usually reserved for those deities. The mountain on his back also represents the Wu Tai Shan Mountain, a sacred mountain for Buddhists as it is believed that Manjushri visited and dwells in there.

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Item Code:	TX61
Specifications:	Tibetan Thangka Painting
Dimensions	Size of Painted Surface 10.0 inch X 14.0 inch Size with Brocade 23.0 inch X 34.5 inch

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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.

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