On the joyful red background, the golden repetition of the mantra of compassion and love, OM MA NI PAD ME HUM, surrounds the Sanskrit symbol for HUM, all enclosed in a delicately painted circular border. HUM is a mantra of inner fire that carries transformative powers. It is used to destroy negativity and create passion, fiery brilliance and vitality.
This mandala is a powerful tool for your meditation practice and a one-of-a-kind piece of art for your personal sanctuary.
An original thangka painting by Tashi Gurung in Upper Mustang (Nepal).
Dimensions: 23cm x 23cm (approx. 9” x 9”)
Materials: natural mineral pigments and 24 k gold on specially prepared cotton canvas.
Comes unmatted and unframed.
ABOUT THANGKA PAINTING
Thangka painting is an ancient art form of Tibetan Buddhist painting. Mandalas, deities and Buddhist teachings are painted on fabric scrolls. These paintings are believe to carry divine energy. And they are tools for meditation and contemplative practice. Thankgka painting starts with plain, natural cotton canvas that is stretched tightly onto a wooden frame. The canvas is coated on both sides with a mixture of clay and natural glue. Once it is dry, then the canvas is polished using smooth stones and soft wood to create a fine paper-like surface. The design is drawn on the finished canvas in pencil, then painted using natural pigments, even gold and silver, mixed with clay and water. No chemicals at all, just natural materials.
ABOUT THE ARTIST - TASHI GURUNG
I met Tashi Gurung, a talented thangka painter, when I traveled to the mythical walled city of Lo Manthang, capital of Upper Mustang. Upper Mustang is in a remote corner of Nepal on the Tibetan border, a pocket in the Himalayan range accessed by the narrow and treacherous Kali Gandaki valley carving its way between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna, two of the highest mountains in the world. Tashi is a native of Lo Manthang. He trained for many years with a thangka master painter in Kathmandu. He is also part of a UNESCO team of international artists working to restore and preserve the sacred frescoes on the walls of ancient monasteries in Upper Mustang and around the Himalayas, some of them over 700 years old.
