The art of Thanka Painting is very old and has been practived from the 3rd century BC in Tibet. The word "Thanka" is estimated to have derived from the Tibetan word "thang yig" meaning a written record. Thankas are fine paintings that are made with great care and concentration all by hands. The tradition was not only inside Tibet and the Tibetan community it soon spread to those who adopted Tibetan Buddhism learned this wonderful art so Thakali, Sherpas, Tamangs, Yolmos, Manangeys and Newars started creating the beauty. According to religious culture, Thanka can be stored at room sanctifies worship with holy water mumbling mantras to animate Thankas mystical power and puts kada or khata(two feet long silk cloth) on it. Since then, the devout use to divest its head before it at the time of worship especially in the morning. These paintings are generally colored part Buddhist and Hindu Gods, Goddess, meditating Buddha and its life cycle, Wheel of Life, Mandala, Bhairab, Tara, Exotic photos, etc.
As Thanka ritual paintings are most people have never considered the Thankas as decorative object. But nowadays Thankas are gaining popularity as a decorative element throughout the world. Usually painted on cotton cloth, more rarely on silk, colors are traditionally made from mineral and vegetable dyes, but now a day Tibetan artists also use modern synthetic dyes, silver and gold for better presentation.
Our Thanka Art Gallery has the best collection of Newari and Tibetan Manjushree Thanka Paintings for Online Sale.
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Manjushree is the embodiment of the characteristics of the Enlightened Mind i.e. Discriminating Wisdom. Manjushree has the ability to see the nature of reality as it is. Manjushree is seen holding the flaming sword of wisdom with his right hand and a book called Prajnaparamita with his left hand. Manjushree has many names such as Manjuvajra, Manjughosa, Vagishvara, Arapachana, etc. In Mahayana Buddhist tradition he is regarded as having supreme wisdom among Bodhisattvas. Manjushree is also called prince of the Dharma because of his eloquent wisdom.
According to the Surangamasamadhi sutra, he became a Buddha in past immeasurable aeons ago although he manifests as the assistant to the Shakyamuni Buddha. According to the Manjushree Vyuhalamkara Sutra, he was the teacher of countless Buddhas in the past and led numerous cultivators to certify the fruit of Buddha hood. Manjushree is thus called the Mother of all Buddhas in Three worlds. In Namasangiti text he is designated as Adi Buddha, the primordial Buddha i.e. embodiment of All self existing Awareness. Manjushree is said to have cut the gorge of Chovar hill with his flaming sword Chandrahasa and let the waters flow out and thereby opened the valley for human habitation and spread the Buddha dharma.
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