THANGKA PAINTINGS - ART AND CULTURE
News: What’s
the writing on the wall at the Rashtrapati Bhavan?
What's in the news?
● The
transformation of the Viceroy’s House into the Rashtrapati Bhavan was a leap
from imperialism to nationalism in which the visual art played a major part.
Thangka Paintings:
● Thangka
paintings are commonly practiced in the states of Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, and Arunachal Pradesh.
● Thangka
painting is art depicting the life of
Buddha and other deities. It also influences the mythological event
relating to and concerning Lamas.
Purpose of Thangka Paintings:
● It
was originally used as a medium of reverence which evoked the highest ideals of
Buddhism. These paintings are divided into three types based on their deception
and meaning.
○ The
first type shows the life of Buddha from birth to the attainment of enlightenment.
○ The
second type shows the “Wheel of life”,
which represents the Buddist beliefs of life and death.
○ The
third one is paintings which are used for offerings
to gods/deities or meditations.