Superfine Medicine Buddha On The Six-Ornament Throne of Enlightenment in His Universe - Tibetan Buddhist Brocadeless Thangka

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The Medicine Buddha, also called Bhaisajyaguru, is the Buddha or healing renowned from Mahayana Buddhism. He is said to have made 12 vows which lead him to heal anyone who calls for him in time of suffering and illness. These illnesses are both of body and mind, believed to be rooted from ignorance or desire. True to tradition, the Medicine Buddha is depicted in this thangka with blue skin. This springs from the belief that his Pure Land is called the Pure Lapis Lazuli, a semi-precious stone that has a rich blue color. He has a medicine bowl on his lap containing medicine nectar and the Myrobalan plant believed to a plant with healing properties. His right hand is in a granting mudra while the thumb and index finger are holding the stem of the Myrobalan plant. He is dressed in a monk’s robe and he can be seen seated on a six-ornament throne with lotus details which represent enlightenment.

In the thangka, other deities surround him in a vast setting that depicts the universe. The other seen above him are the Eight Medicine Buddhas, also invoked for prayers of healing from suffering or physical ailments. The Shakyamuni is positioned at the center, above the Medicine Buddha’s head. At the bottom are Manjushri’s the Buddha of wisdom’s emanation, the Dorje Shugden. The White Mahakala, the Buddha of Compassion is also pictured. They are attended by other beings and creatures also featured in the painting. The packed thangka also carries a dominant red palette, which may mean prosperity and good health.

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Item Code:	TZ62
Specifications:	Tibetan Thangka Painting
Dimensions	Size - 20 inches X 26.7 inches

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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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