Description
☛ Chandamaharoshana: Brief Introduction
Chandamaharoshana, meaning the “Extremely Violent and Wrathful One,” is a fierce aspect of the blue Akshobhya Buddha, also known as Achala. The Chandamaharoshana Tantra belongs to the Anuttarayoga or ‘Supreme Yoga’ Tantra of the ‘father-tantra’ class, emphasizing skillful means. With origins in early India, this Tantra employs highly esoteric sexual symbolism expressed in the ‘twilight language. Its practice remains popular in the Newar Buddhist tradition, while Achala is recognized as one of the Ten Wrathful Ones in Vajrayana Buddhism. In Japan’s Shingon Tradition, he is revered as Fudo Myo-o, one of the ‘thirteen deities.’ This visionary Newar paubha painting, created by Raj Prakash Tuladhar, depicts the powerful form of Chandamaharoshana and his consort, Mamaki, set within a symbolic landscape.
☛ Newari Paubha
This Chandamaharoshana is a newari thangka or Paubaha, Paubha, also known as “paubhas,” is a traditional religious painting created by the Newar people of Nepal. These exquisite artworks depict various subjects, including deities, mandalas, and monuments, and serve as aids for meditation and spiritual practices. Paubhas are similar to Tibetan Thangka paintings and are highly regarded for their religious and cultural significance.
While most paubhas portray Buddhist subjects, there are also a few that incorporate Hindu themes. The creation of these paintings is seen as a means of earning religious merit for both the artist and the patron. Newar Buddhists often commission skilled artists, primarily from the Chitrakar caste (known as Pun in Nepal Bhasa), to paint paubhas that are displayed during festivals and special occasions.
☛ Shakyamuni Buddha: Brief Introduction
The ancient Sanskrit term ‘Buddha’ translates to ‘awakened’ or ‘supreme awareness’, closely linked with ‘Bodhi’ denoting enlightenment. Gautama Shakyamuni, born around 563 BCE in Lumbini (now Nepal), epitomizes compassionate understanding and enlightened consciousness. His teachings centered on understanding desire’s role in perpetuating suffering, a theme resonating across Hinduism, Jainism, and related faiths. He emphasized how greed, selfishness, and possessiveness obscure higher awareness, perpetuating suffering among the sick, hungry, elderly, and impoverished. Gautama’s serene image stands in contrast to Western ideals of materialism and outward pride, advocating for inner enlightenment as the path to alleviating worldly suffering.
☛ Chenrezig: Brief Introduction
Of all the deities in Mahayana Buddhism, the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, Chenrezig, is one of the most celebrated. He is the lord gifted with complete enlightenment, who refrains from entering the blissful state of nirvana to remain here below and save the living being of the earth. This devotion to the salvation of others emphasizes profound compassion.
Compassion for others had always been regarded as a virtue in early Buddhism, but it had a somewhat subordinate place to wisdom. In Mahayana Buddhism, compassion received an equal emphasis with wisdom, perhaps because the Mahayana was more consciously universal and covered a wider sector of society. In this view of the world, all men and women, not just those leading a monastic life, could achieve nirvana.
☛ Introduction to Thangka
A thangka, also known as tangka, thanka, or tanka, is a vibrant and intricate Tibetan Buddhist painting that serves as a visual representation of spiritual teachings. Crafted with meticulous detail on cotton or silk appliqué, thangkas depict a wide range of subjects including Buddhist deities, sacred scenes, mandalas, and narrative stories. These sacred artworks are traditionally kept unframed and rolled up for storage, resembling ancient scrolls. To protect their delicate nature, thangkas are mounted on textile backings and often adorned with a silk cover on the front. Proper preservation in dry environments is crucial to maintain the integrity and longevity of the silk.
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