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Tibetan Buddhist Vaishravana (Kubera)

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In Tibetan Buddhism, Vaishravana is revered as the leader among the Four Heavenly Kings. Outside of Tibet, he is also an important figure in Japanese Buddhism and traces his origins from India's Lokopalas, especially Kubera. The Four Heavenly Kings are protectors who watch over the four cardinal directions of the world. Vaishravana’s name means “he who hears all things” and is known as the guardian on the North. This painting of Vaishravana is a great depiction of him being Heavenly King thanks to his image being encircled with stars and dark space which resemble the sky at night. His foot rests on a conch shell, a significant symbol in Buddhism.

Traditional art usually paints him as having a yellow face. Zoom in on his right hand to see him carrying a citron fruit, one of the main symbols that separate him from his Indian counterpart Kubera, who usually holds a parasol. The citron comes from the Jambhara tree, a tree whose names sound close with his other identity, Jambhala. On his left hand is a mongoose. This mongoose is a sign of Vaishravana’s success over the Nagas, or the snakes who guard wealth. The mongoose appears to the ejecting a jewel from its mouth, a powerful symbol of rejecting materialism and a showcase of generosity as a good way to about one’s spiritual journey. He is then known as a god of wealth that gives and blesses more because the act itself is freeing.

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Item Code:	TN96
Specifications:	Tibetan Thangka Painting
Dimensions	Size of Painted Surface 10.5 inch X 13inch Size with Brocade 21 inch X 33.5 inch

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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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