Hand-painted Original Tibetan Kalachakra Mandala thangka Mineral Painting from Tibet (No frame)

This is wonderful original hand painted thangka painting of Kalachakra Mandala from Lhasa.

Dimensions: 

Width: 13" inch 

Height: 12.75" inch

Borders: 1" approx.

About Kalachakra Mandala

Kalachakra is a Sanskrit word for "Wheel of Time." It is a complete, elaborately detailed, cosmology. It is founded in a Tantric cosmogony - a traditional sacred explanation of the creation and structure of all.

In the description, the microcosm that is man is not different from the macrocosm that is the Universe. Besides these two very complex "maps" - one outside us, the other inside us, there is given a method - a way to practice and apply this knowledge, in order to achieve ultimate happiness.

Kalachakra can also be translated, the Cycle of Time. It is the name of a highest level Tantra and also the name of the dark blue male deity, whose golden consort is Vishvamata (Mother of the Universe.) The teaching of it, which is preparatory to the initiation, requires the construction of an intricate Mandala, and to execute it is an extensive undertaking.

Perhaps the most admired and discussed symbol of Buddhist religion and art is the Mandala, a word which, like guru and yoga, has become part of the English language. Both broadly define Mandalas as geometric designs intended to symbolize the universe, and reference is made to their use in Buddhist and Hindu practices. The word Mandala itself if derived from the root Manda, which means essence, to which the suffix - la, meaning container, has been added. Thus, one obvious connotation of Mandala is that it is a container of essence. As an image, a Mandala may symbolize both the mind and the body of the Buddha. In esoteric Buddhism the principle in the Mandala is the presence of the Buddha in it, but images of deities are not necessary. They may be presented either as a wheel, a tree, or a jewel, or in any other symbolic manifestation. 

History

The Kalachakra system was one of the last and most complex tantric systems to be brought to Tibet from India. In recent years many Westerners have become acquainted with this tradition as various lamas have given the Kalachakra Initiation to large groups of people.

Such initiations are given on the basis of a mandala, the sacred residence with its residence deities, usually depicted in graphic form. Due to their colorful and intricate nature, mandalas have attracted a great deal of interest. Although some can be openly explained, most are related to tantric doctrines that are normally supposed to be kept secret.

The best known form of the Kalachakra mandala is the sand mandala, for which colored sand grains are painstakingly placed. This sand drawing represents a 3-dimensional palace of which every single detail has a symbolic meaning. A mandala is a symbolic representation of many aspects of a specific tantra. In the Kalachakra tantra, all elements of the mandala refer to the universe (outer Kalachakra), the body and mind (inner Kalachakra) and the practice (initiation, generation and completion stages). 

Every detail of the mandala, from each deity to every adornments of the building, refers to time and the universe (Outer Kalachakra), physical and mental aspects of Kalachakra and ourselves (Inner Kalachakra), and also to aspects of the practice (Alternative Kalachakra).