Nepalese Form of Devi Lakshmi, Daughter Of The Oceans (Brocadeless Thangka)

$235
The Devi Lakshmi is the daughter of the oceans. She was born of its spume, during the great samudramanthana episode of Indian itihasa (Bhagavata Purana). Her husband, the supreme Lord Vishnu, assumed the form of Koorma the tortoise and played a crucial role in the manthana, which explains the tortoise that supports the fair Devi standing. This thangka depicts Her in Her gentle, lissome beauty as interpreted by traditional Nepalese painters.

She is dressed blue-coloured silks, in keeping with Her oceanic origin, and a riot of peach and green sashes float about Her. Her long blue hair cascades down Her curvaceous back, all the way to Her hips. The crown on Her head and the ornaments on Her delicate curves are made of sapphire-studded gold. A plethora of offerings to Her are to be found to a side in the foreground. On the other side are painted a couple of creatures of dusk, in sharp contrast to Her enchanting presence. In fact, it is them She looks upon out of those long-lashed half-shut eyes.

From the background, She seems to be within the private recesses of the typical Nepalese high-ceilinged monastery. The face of the enlightened one is painted on the great oakwood door in the background. The charming presence of Her brother, Lord Ganesha, completes the picture.

Item Code: TZ42
Specifications:
Tibetan Thangka Painting
Dimensions Size - 11.5 inches X 17.5 inches
Handmade
Handmade
Free delivery
Free delivery
Fully insured
Fully insured
100% Made in India
100% Made in India
Fair trade
Fair trade

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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