Hand Painted 35 Buddhas of Confession Thangka Painting

35 Buddhas of Confession Thangka Scroll Painting

 Shakyamuni Buddha – The Awakened One

Shakyamuni Buddha was born more than 2500 years ago in Lumbini, Nepal. He was called Siddhartha Gautama by his father, King Suddhodana, and mother, Queen Mayadevi. At the age of 29, he renounced the luxury of his royal heritage to take up the life of a religious wanderer. He submitted himself to rigorous ascetic practices, putting forth a superhuman struggle for six strenuous years. At the age of 35, he realized that the path to enlightenment was not to be found in the extremes of ascetic practice, and he went alone into the forest to meditate deeply on the true nature of reality, vowing not to return until he achieved his goal.

Through his unwavering determination, his meditations yielded profound insight into the truth underlying all existence (the Dharma), and he attained complete enlightenment. For the remainder of his life, living as the perfect embodiment of all the virtues he preached, the Buddha traveled widely teaching the Dharma. He offered his teachings to men, women, and children from all walks of life, so that they too could end suffering and attain awakening.

The Buddha Shakyamuni, at the moment of enlightenment, invoked the earth as witness, touching the fingers of his right hand to the ground in Bhumisparsha Mudra. According to the Sutras, the sun and moon stood still, and all the creatures of the world came to offer obeisance to the Supreme One who had broken through the bonds of ignorance. Images of the Buddha in this "earth-touching posture" celebrate this supreme moment of victory. The image should be interpreted as depicting the very essence of awakening, as the Buddha said, "Don't look at me, but to the enlightened state."

Gesture and Attributes

The Buddha is depicted with his right hand extended to the earth in the Bhumisparsha Mudra, the gesture of witness. He is "calling the earth to witness" his supreme victory over the temptations and illusions of the material world as symbolized by the demon Mara. His left hand lies in his lap with palm upward in the gesture of meditation (Dhyana Mudra). In some representations he also holds the begging bowl of an ordained Buddhist monk. The bowl contains three precious nectars indicating that he has conquered the three demons of uncontrolled death, contaminated aggregates, and delusion. Thus, this posture is known as "Buddha Shakyamuni Conquering the Demons" and shows the moment of the Buddha's full enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.

About this Scroll Painting

This beautiful thangka scroll painting depicts 35 Buddhas of Confession. The practice of the 35 Buddhas of Confession is based upon a Mahayana text known as the ‘Sutra of Three Heap’ (Skt. Triskandha-Sutra), which is performed by the Buddhist sangha in order to absolve any transgressions against their religious vows. This three-part practice involves: praise to the Buddhas, confession and dedications of merit.  There are several different traditions of depicting the 35 Buddhas, with their varying colors, gestures, and their few individual hand attributes.

The sequence in this composition begins with Shakyamuni Buddha, who sits upon his enlightenment throne at the center, while being flanked by his two main disciples, Sariputra(left) and Maudgalyayana (right). The Shakyamuni Buddha Statue in the center is surround by 34 Buddhas in 2 circles. The first inner circle has 15 Buddhas which surrounds the Shakyamuni Buddha and the second outer circle has 19 Buddhas. At the bottom center is the white lion mounted Vaisharavana, the Lord of Wealth.

This is a Tibetan Style Thangka Scroll Painting which is entirely hand painted by the experienced artisan using same ancient techniques. This 35 Buddhas of Confession Thangka Scroll Painting is hand painted on cotton canvas with 24 karat gold detailing; by the artisans of Patan in Nepal who have been in the business from generations.