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Chemchok Heruka with Consort - Tibetan Buddhist

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Chemchok Heruka is the wrathful form of Samanabhadra, a primordial Buddha. This aspect of the Buddha is a representation of the transmutation of inner channels that are central in Tantric traditions. Chemchok Heruka is a yidam or main deity among the 58 wrathful deities that a man will meet between death and rebirth. This thangka shows a Buddha in the topmost part of his head and aura in an act of union.

He has three heads with three eyes each representing the power of seeing the past, present, and future. The thangka showcases Chemchok Heruka with six hands and wings. One hand holds a vajra (and a five-prong one) which symbolizes the properties of diamond and thunder. He also has a trident with three human heads that denotes moksha from the three worlds. Chemchok Heruka has a crown of skulls and just a little above his head is a figure that symbolizes Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light. Near the center are his two hands holding a kila or a dagger to cut down attachment. He is in an embrace with his consort Namshyalma who holds a vajra in her right hand and a skull cap on the other. He can also be seen stepping on beings but this does not signal him being evil, it is just a show of his power that will stop at no one. Meanwhile, at the lower part of the thangka, there are groups of spheres representing jewels used as offering to the deity. These offerings represent the giving of six senses (sight, smell, hearing, taste, touch, and thought). Its main message suggests the one offering is ready to give the deity their whole being in exchange for blessings. The setting also depicts a mountain range which symbolizes the Himalayas.

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Item Code:	ZE62
Specifications:	Tibetan Thangka Painting
Dimensions	Size of Painted Surface 20.5 inch X 28.5 inch Size with Brocade 34 inch X 55 inch

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The dark, reddish brown winged Chemchok Heruka with three faces, six arms, and four legs embraces his consort in sexual union. He is the terrific form of Samantabhadra, the primordial Buddha form of the Nyingma order.

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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