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The Perfectly Crafted Wheel of Life (Brocadeless Thangka)

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The Bhavacakra, or Wheel of Life, stands as a powerful Buddhist emblem signifying the unending cycle of birth, existence, death, and rebirth known as samsara. Central to the wheel are the three poisons, representing ignorance, attachment, and aversion—the fundamental causes of human suffering.

Extending outward from this central depiction lies the realm of Bardo, a state difficult to directly translate, as it embodies the intermediate state between life and death. This state comprises six realms, illustrating various forms of existence, from divine pleasures to the agonies endured by beings in realms like that of hungry ghosts and hell. Within this symbolism, the imagery portrays spirits being drawn downwards by demons, a representation of succumbing to the three poisons and negative karma. Conversely, disciples striving to overcome these poisons ascend, symbolizing the battle against negativity and the pursuit of spiritual growth. The Wheel of Life and the concept of Bardo offer a framework to comprehend the cyclical nature of existence and the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment in Buddhism.

Yama, the ruler of death, is driving, emphasizing how impermanence is inevitable. The twelve links of dependent origination circle the wheel, signifying the interdependent web of causes and effects that sustains the cycle of rebirth. Because of their place on this cosmic wheel, humans have an exceptional chance to advance spiritually and achieve emancipation. Reminding practitioners of the core Buddhist teachings regarding impermanence, suffering, and the path to enlightenment, the Wheel of Life is a potent visual tool.

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Item Code:	PAA726
Specifications:	WATER COLOR ON COTTON
Dimensions	35.80 inch Height X 26.80 inch Width

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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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