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Tibetan Buddhist Superfine Sarvabuddhadakini (Naro Dakini): The First Feminist

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Item Code:	TK58
Specifications:	Tibetan Thangka Painting
Dimensions	Size of Painted Surface -18 inch X 24 inch Size with Brocade - 30 inch X 51 inch

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This lovely and handsome thangka depicts a powerful image of Sarvabuddhadakini or Naro Dakini. Dakinis or Yoginis are skywalkers (a witch or fairy who wanders in the air), in some cases celestial female beings, and sometimes, earthly women who possess supernatural wisdom and powers. They have initiated, taught, and assisted many great Indian and Tibetan yogis in performing esoteric Vajrayana rituals. For every dhyani Buddha there is an affiliated dakini. A Sarvabuddhadakini, however, has access to all the Buddhas and thus is more powerful. Also known as Naro Dakini, this form of Vajrayogini or Dakini is the preeminent form of Yogini in the Chakrasamvara and Vajravarahi Tantras. She manifested herself in an initiatory vision to the great Indian Teacher and Mahasiddha Naropa, (A.D. 956-1040) who received teachings from her, and his disciples began calling her Naro Dakini or Vajrayogini Naro Kha Chod or Naro Sky Goers. Moreover she is patroness of Sakya sect and an acolyte of the Dakini Vajravarahi.

The teaching of Naro Dakini is mentioned in the Heruka and Vajravarahi Tantras. She insists that all female beings in the universe are her embodiments or manifestations and thus should be respected, honored and served without exception. She takes form so that women, seeing enlightenment in female form will recognize their innate divinity and potential for enlightenment. Devotion to her should be expressed as respect for women, while respect for women provides a way of measuring devotion to the goddess. She also promising her blessing to a man who worship her as per instructions mentioned in the Vajrayogini Sadhana.

In the present painting she is dancing in alidha on two personages on a lotus throne. Her body is red, the color of intense emotion and sensuality. She is very youthful looking and is untamed. She has a beautiful shape with large pointed breast and firm nipples. Her face shows the same grimness as her Yogini figure. With her three eyes she can see past, present, and future. Her eyebrows and hair on her face are flamed-shaped. Her hair is partly upswept in a knot and partly falls in loose on her back. She is wearing a crown of skulls with jewels and bone ornaments on her arms and feet and bone apron on her body. Moreover she is wearing gold earrings. She is naked except her ornaments, which helps to concentrate one's attention on the expressiveness of her movement. There is an arch-shaped aureole behind her with protective fire fence. Sarvabuddhadakini is holding a vajra chopper in her right hand, there is a skull cup filled with blood that she is bringing to her lips. On her left shoulder, rests, a magic stick or khatvanga staff. There is a green-skinned double-headed pellet drum (damaru) with a dangling bell, hanging from her khatvanga by a banner, symbolizing her nondual union with Chakrasamvara. The chopper, which has half vajra for handle and curved iron blade, is actually a butcher's knife. It is also used to cut up corpses that will receive what is called a 'skyburial', in which the cut-up flesh is eaten by vultures and other birds. The ritual meaning in Tantricism lies in the extension of this. It signifies cutting earthly ties and thus crossing into the liberated state. The kapala or skull cup with blood symbolizes a similar breaking of ties with samsara and also the acceptance of this sacrifice by the Yogini who thereby positive indication that will work with yogi.

The upper corners depict beautiful blue sky with clouds and sun and moon. The middle and foreground portrays lovely mountainous landscape with trees, natural vegetation, waterfalls and lakes etc. There is a wrathful offering at the bottom center. The painting is very much suitable for esoteric practices and rituals.

Select Bibliography

A. Getty, The Gods of Northern Buddhism, Tokyo, 1962

J.C. Huntington and D. Bangdel, The Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art, Ohio, 2004

Lokesh Chandra, Transcendental Art of Tibet, Delhi, 1996

Marylin M. Rhie & Robert A.F. Thurman, Wisdom and Compassion: The Sacred Art of Tibet, Thames and Hudson, 1996

Marylin M. Rhie & Robert A.F. Thurman, Worlds of Transformation: Tibetan Art of Wisdom and Compassion, New York, 1999

This description is by Dr. Shailendra K. Verma, whose Doctorate thesis is on "Emergence and Evolution of the Buddha Image (From its inception to 8th century A.D.)".

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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