The central deity is the Buddha of compassion known as "Chen Rey Sig" in Tibetan or "Avalokiteshavra" in Sanskrit. This Buddha has eleven heads, thousand hands and thousand eyes. This Buddha founded the most basic Tibetan chant for compassion which is a six syllable chant, "Om mani padme hum" which on the surface translates to , "Hail the jewel in the lotus". It’s believed that even though the lotus is born in the swamp, it remains pure and unspoiled by its surroundings.
The lotus also known as "padme" in Sanskrit represents purity. On the top left we have the "Buddha Amitabha" who is the Buddha of life or longevity. On the top right, we have "Guru Padmasambhava", who wards off any negative vibes or evil spirits. On the bottom left, We have the Buddha of wisdom known as "Jampi yang" in Tibetan or "Manjushree" in Sanskrit. This Buddha has the book of wisdom on the left and the sword to slash away at ignorance. On the bottom right, we have "Vajarapani" who
holds a thunderbolt in his right hand and also goes by the Tibetan name "Chak na Dorjee". Title= Chak Tong-Chen Tong (Thousand hands- Thousand eyes) Medium= Tibetan ground stone colors & gold on canvas Size=17"X 25"
Title= Chak Tong-Chen Tong (Thousand hands- Thousand eyes) Medium= Tibetan ground stone colors & gold on canvas Size=17"X 25"
Title= Chak Tong-Chen Tong (Thousand hands- Thousand eyes) Medium= Tibetan ground stone colors & gold on canvas Size=17"X 25"
Title= Chak Tong-Chen Tong (Thousand hands- Thousand eyes) Medium= Tibetan ground stone colors & gold on canvas Size=17"X 25"
This Thang-ka depicts the 8 preachers who were instrumental in preaching about Tibetan Buddhism with Buddha as the central deity surrounded by the 6 intellectual scholars who are also considered to be jewels. This Thang-ka is instrumental for disciples of Buddhism to study about Buddhism as this Thang-ka depicts the 8 preachers who came up with the blueprint of Buddhism. For instance, Nagarjuna and Asanga were the preachers who preached the middle path which is the central theme of Buddhism.
The Six Intellectual scholars that preaches the Tibetan Buddhism are as follows ; On the top left seated Lhu-Dup also known as "Nagarjuna" in Sanskrit. To the right "Tho--May" and "Asanga" in Sanskrit. The two standing monks serve as an assistant to the Buddha, the monk on the left is "Shary-bhu" and to the right "Mongal-bhu". Below that on the left is a seated "Aryadeva" and to the far right sits "Yig-neng" also known as "Vasudbanndhu". Bottom row second to the far left, Cho-lang "Dinaga"
and Cho- Dhak " Dharma-Kiti" seated next. Bottom row far left Sakya-woth "Sakyaprabha" and far right sits Yonten woth also known as "Gunaprabha" in Sanskrit. Title= Gen-Thuk-Chok-Nyi Medium= Tibetan ground stone colors & gold on canvas Size=18"X 23"
Title= Sang-Gyepe Zepa Medium= Tibetan ground stone colors & gold on canvas Size=16.5" x 24" This Thang-ka depicts life story of Lord Buddha. Buddha's life is depicted visually from the day in the garden of Lumbini. The childhood locked inside the palace compounds, freeing him from the evil and preventing him from seeing and experiencing any kind of pain or suffering of outside world.The day he ventured beyond the castle walls and came across sorrow, death and those suffering- he saw beggar, a cripple, a corpse and a holy man- which affected the prince deeply, awakening a deep desire to find the corpse of suffering and thus alleviate it. His years of fasting, meditation and time spent in painful search to find a way to end suffering.The full moon night when he had a direct realization of Niravana (eternal peace), which transformed prince into Buddha at Bodh Gaya, India. The day he left this world at the age of eighty, having exhausted his human body for the sake of all sentiment beings.
Thang-ka paintings
The series of Thang-ka paintings that I have here are the result of collaboration with my father who is also my first art teacher.
Traditonal Tibetan scroll paintings popularly known as Thang-kas are painted by interpreting Tibetan scrolls and scriptures to get accurate details and dimensions and are drawn geometrically. Thankgas are popularly used in the West as a visual aid for meditation. In a typical Tibetan household, a Thang-ka is commissioned two or three times on average by a Tibetan in his or her life. Thang-kas are commissioned when there is a birth in the family by consulting the cosmic charts and the newborn’s horoscope. If there’s an illness in the family, a medicine Buddha Thang-ka might be commissioned to regain good health. Eventually when someone passes away, a Thang-ka is painted for the deceased so that he or she can find a clearer path in the afterlife guided by the guardian angels depicted in the Thang-ka.
Traditonal Thang-ka painting requires devotion and dedication to the craft and the colors that are used in the paintings are typically ground stone colors. Since Thang-ka (Tibetan fine arts) is a vanishing form of art, my goal is to preserve and educate viewers about this ancient traditional form of art. I will be adding new work and new Thang-kas periodically with detailed descriptions in future.