Buddhist Iconographies of Nepal and Tibet Show Many Interesting Differences: Dr Vajracharya

Dr. Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, Sept 29, (Nepal Oregon News): A scholarly talk on "Nepalese Buddhist Art and Iconography: What Makes It Distinct ?" by Dr Gautama Vajracharya and a presentation on "Making Nepalese Buddhist Ritual Masks" by Alysha Graham, an artist,  were organized at Nritya Mandala Mahavihara (NMM) in Portland on Saturday, Sept 28, 2019 as part of the NMM's ongoing tenth anniversary programs.

Prajwal Vajracharya, a priest and co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara, on the occasion gave a short introduction of Dr Vajracharya before the start of the talk.

Although based on the same well-known Sanskrit texts Sadhanamala and Nispannayogavali, the Buddhist iconographies of Nepal and Tibet show many interesting differences, Dr Vajracharya said at the program.

Dr Vajracharya, during the scholarly talk, shared and explained these differences in light of his observations of Buddhist civilization and Himalayan geography and climate.

One of the most interesting differences between the iconographies of Nepalese Paubhas and Tibetan Thangkas  is:  More than 75 percent of Nepalese Paubhas depict Toranas whereas Torana is mostly missing in Tibetan  Thangkas, said Dr Vajracharya.

( Torana is a free-standing ornamental or arched gateway for ceremonial purposes seen in the Buddhist and Hindu arts and architecture of Nepal, India and other South Asian nations.)

Replying to a query of Nepal Oregon News about the study of Nepalese Buddhist art and iconography outside of Nepal, Dr Vajracharya informed that the research and study of Nepalese Buddhist art and iconography started in a French University during King Mahendra's rule. Nepalese Buddhist art and iconography are studied in the US, Britain, Germany and some other European countries, he added.

Vajracharya, who was born into a Newah Gubhaju family in Kathmandu in 1940, learnt Sanskrit from Nayaraj Pant and he was also taught to read ancient inscriptions and iconography.

Dr Vajracharya taught History of South Asian Art for 23 years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Art History.

Dr Vajracharya, who is a renowned Nepali Sanskritist and art history scholar, is the author of books : (1) Nepalese Seasons: Rain and Rirual (2) Frog Hymns and Rain Babies: Monsoon Culture and Art of Ancient South Asia (3) Himalayas: An Aesthetic Adventure.

Likewise, making a presentation on "Making Nepalese Buddhist Ritual Masks", Alysha Graham, an artist, presented the process of creating masks for Charya Nritya, dance as a spiritual practice. At the program, Helen Appel, co-founder of the Mahavihara gave a brief introduction about Alysha before her presentation.

I grew up in a Gurdjieff community in rural Aurora, Oregon. I am an artist. At age 20, I sat my first 10 day Vipassana retreat taught by S N Goenka. I consider Vipassana to be my root practice and have completed and served 5 ten day courses, Alysha said during the presentation.

At age 25, I found the practice of Charya Buddhist Nepalese deity dance. I also studied the Green Tara and White Tara long forms in Charya through a grant that also included studying traditional Buddhist deity mask making and Thangka painting, Alysha went on saying.

Answering a question of Nepal Oregon News, Alysha said that her inspiration to become an artist came from years of relating closely with nature, her passion for indigenous wisdom, Buddhist philosophy, yoga, health and plant spirit medicine.

Alisha Graham is an artist, Charya dancer and Vajrayana practitioner and recipient of a grant to study traditional Nepalese Buddhist mask making and Paubha painting.

Both Dr Vajracharya and Graham replied to numerous questions asked by Nepalese and American participants at the program. The program which was attended by over 50 American and Nepalese participants was followed by a Nepali style dinner.

(Nepal Oregon News writer Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in America)