NAME-SARTHAK VASDEVA

CLASS- XI D                               

        INSPIRED BY       

(THE LANDSCAPE OF THE SOUL)

Tangkha, also known as tangka, thanka or tanka (Tibetan:)is a painting on cloth. ... The thangka is not a flat creation like an oil painting or acrylic painting but consists of a picture panel which is painted over which a textile is mounted and then over which is laid a cover, usually silk.The literal translation of the Tibetan word Thangka means ‘recorded message’. Amongst all the Arts and Crafts in Tawang, painting occupies a very special position. Not only is it essential for designing, decorating and finishing homes and personal objects, but it is also a highly developed and important mode of religious expression. It is a medium through which the Buddhist philosophy can be explained.

Tangkha serve as important teaching tools depicting the life of the Buddha, various influential lamas and other deities and bodhisattvas. One subject is The Wheel of Life (Bhavachakra), which is a visual representation of the Abhidharma teachings (Art of Enlightenment).The ideal bodily form of the enlightened beings has to be perfectly oriented in relation to the central axis and each body part has to be perfectly proportioned. Even the slightest mistake affects the accuracy and hence the religious value of the thangka. It requires deep understanding of the symbolism involved to capture the spirit of it. One can easily purchase a good quality Thangka in the local market.

UNDERSTANDING THE PAINTING-

For Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns alike, Thangka is regarded as an essential tool during religious practice. Worship Thangka could earn merit while observing Thangka would evoke associations of Buddhist teachings. Similarly, at home, the faithful would invite the painter to create a Thangka for worship. Some would also personally paint and dedicate it to the monastery temple as decoration. The most spectacular can be found in monasteries during festivals and religious assemblies when monks bring out their collection of Thangka for public display as a demonstration of the glory of the great Buddha. They would also give speeches along with singing and dancing, creating an occasion of the magnificence of solemnity. Normally the Thangka used for indoor worship is generally not more than one meter in length. However, those used for public display when opened in full can completely cover one side of a mountain.