Indestructible vajra

The Indestructible Reality of the Buddha's Vajra Mind

This painting portrays Buddha Shakyamuni in the center with an ornate nimbus of two nagas, makras, dwarfs, elephants, lions, and a garuda with outstretched wings topping them. Lord Buddha is depicted in the bhumisparsha-mudra whereby He summons the Earth goddess as witness to His supreme and ultimate Enlightenment. He is the Samyak-sambuddha, simultaneously enlightened and enlightening. Having emerged serene from amidst the raging melee of Mara. He is now saint per-excellence.

The ushnisha, or protuberance on His head, is the seat of divine consciousness, terminated by a round ornament of the chintamani jewel. On the forehead is the auspicious mark or the urna. The long lobes of the ears are the external symbols of a yogi. His half-closed eyes and facial expression convey peace, serenity, calmness and deep spiritualism. He wears beautiful monk's robes.

Below the diamond throne of the Buddha are probably His two chiefs disciples, Sariputra and Maudgalyayana, one is holding an alms bowl, while the second one a vase, which is also an attribute of Maitreya. In the center, below the throne of the Master, are offerings on beautiful leaves and flowers rising from a lake. It is in front of a vishvavajra decorated red cloth hanging over the Buddha's pedestal base with its two white snow lions.

The vishvavajra symbolizes the indestructible reality of the Buddha's vajra mind as the unshakeable throne or ground of enlightenment. Below this is a beautiful lake with offerings. Lotuses and leaves at both sides of the thornback curl upwards, a stylistic device perhaps taken from the Tibetan painting tradition. In the divine sky two Buddhas and a red Amitabha Buddha have been depicted. The middle and foreground are filled with rocky landscape, lakes and natural vegetation etc.

The artist has successfully been able to execute this handsome thangka. The composition, lining, and color-combination are elegant. The whole is a pleasing harmony of colors with green, ochre and gold prevailing, conveying deep spiritualism.

References

Alice Getty, The Gods of Northern Buddhism, Tokyo, 1962

M.M. Rhie & R.A.F. Thurman, World of Transformation: Tibetan Art of Wisdom and Compassion, New York, 1999

S.K.Verma, Art and Iconography of the Buddha Images, Delhi, 1996