SARASWATI-NEWARI THANGKA ART

SARASWATI
In Hinduism, Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, music, arts, science, and technology. She is the consort of Brahma, also revered as His Shakti.
The name Saraswati came from “saras” (meaning “flow”) and “wati” (meaning “a woman”). So, Saraswati is a symbol of knowledge; its flow (or growth) is like a river and knowledge is supremely alluring, like a beautiful woman. She is depicted as a beautiful fair Goddess with Four arms, wearing a spotless white saree and seated on a white lotus. She is also known as “Sharada”, “Vani” and “Vagdevi” (both meaning “speech”).

INTRODUCTION TO THANGKA
A thangka, also known as tangka, thanka, or tanka, is a vibrant and intricate Tibetan Buddhist painting that serves as a visual representation of spiritual teachings. Crafted with meticulous detail on cotton or silk appliqué, thangkas depict a wide range of subjects including Buddhist deities, sacred scenes, mandalas, and narrative stories. These sacred artworks are traditionally kept unframed and rolled up for storage, resembling ancient scrolls. To protect their delicate nature, thangkas are mounted on textile backings and often adorned with a silk cover on the front. Proper preservation in dry environments is crucial to maintain the integrity and longevity of the silk.