Mandala Thangka, 1300 CE - 1400 CE
Paint on Fabric
99.1 x 77.2 cm
39 x 30 3/8 in
39 x 30 3/8 in
MK.005
Mandala (Sanskrit मण्डल) is a geometric configuration of symbols. In various spiritual traditions, mandalas may be employed for focusing attention of practitioners and adepts, as a spiritual guidance tool, for...
Mandala (Sanskrit मण्डल) is a geometric configuration of symbols. In various spiritual traditions, mandalas may be employed for focusing attention of practitioners and adepts, as a spiritual guidance tool, for establishing a sacred space and as an aid to meditation and trance induction. In the Eastern religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Shintoism it is used as a map representing deities, or especially in the case of Shintoism, paradises, kami or actual shrines. This mandala thangka, which depicts Surya (Sanskrit सूर्य), the sun and the solar deity in Hinduism, strongly reflects the characteristics of Tibetan Buddhism developed in the Himalayas. The iconography of Surya in Hinduism varies with its texts. He is typically shown as a resplendent standing person holding a sunflower in both hands, riding a chariot pulled by one or more horses typically seven. Sitting on the chariot of Aruna, who is the charioteer of Surya and personifies the red light of the sun, Suriya is surrounded by eight planets and embodies the universe of the Buddhist view. The mandala thangka, which was produced with the performance of a ritual ceremony for the purpose of resolving human unjust karma, depicts people and their families believed to be donors of the work at the bottom, and records of Sanskrit are also recorded.