Manjushri Sketch Postcard

About Sketches: The depiction of various deities on Thangkas is regulated by precise rules of composition. Some of these rules of composition are expressed visually through proportioning diagrams and sample sketches of deities. The sketches demonstrate, for example, various compositional schemes of thangkas: the posture of deities, the gestures that deities make with their hands (mudras), the symbolic objects that their hands clasp, etc. These rules of composition are timeless, as they were passed down from master to pupil through successive generations. The original pencil drawings created by ariya were edited in Photoshop. Manjushri is depicted as a male bodhisattva associated with transcendent wisdom in Buddhism. The Sanskrit name can be translated as Gentle Glory. He is wielding a flaming sword in his right hand, representing the realization of transcendent wisdom which cuts down ignorance and duality. The scripture supported by the lotus held in his left hand is a Prajñāpāramitā sūtra, representing his attainment of ultimate realization from the blossoming of wisdom. Mañjuśrī is often depicted as riding on a blue lion, or sitting on the skin of a lion. This represents the use of wisdom to tame the mind, which is compared to riding or subduing a ferocious lion. In Tibetan Buddhism, Manjushri is sometimes depicted in a trinity withAvalokiteshvara (Tib. Chenrazig) and Vajrapani (Tib. Channa Dorje). In Nepal, legends say that the Kathmandu Valley was once a lake. It is believed that Mañjuśrī saw a lotus flower in the center of the lake and cut a gorge to allow the lake to drain. The place where the lotus flower settled became the famous Swayambunath Stupa and the valley thus became habitable.