Sangha
is community of Buddhists. Used to mean monastic
community but concept broadened. Showing the path
to enlightenment.
About
100 years after Buddha's death, communities disagreed
and split over ways to achieve enlightenment.
Traditional school of Theravada Buddhists follows
Buddha's original teachings. Mahayana school accepts
some changes, various ways to enlightenment (became
Zen).
Scripts
appeared also introducing changes. Deification
of Buddha, and separation between mortal Buddha
like Siddharta who will reappear, and transcendental
ones which are only understood through meditation
(Dhyani Buddhas). While enlightenment reached
through individual effort, idea spread that meditation
Buddhas gave merit to those who worship them.
Bodhisattvas are humans who reached enlightenment
but instead of joining nirvana chose to help others
reach enlightenment.
Tantrism
Movement from with the Mahayana school appeared
in first century AD in fringe areas of India.
Hindus and Buddhists came into contact with animist
religions and integrated beliefs and practices.
Yoga, physical exercises to control body functions,
mantras, repetitive utterances, bijas, magic syllables,
use of designs and objects such as mandala and
dorjee. Transformed into Lamaism which penetrated
also into Nepal. Purpose was to shorten the road
to enlightenment with such practices.
Prayer
Flags and Prayer Wheels take prayers to the sky,
to the divinities. Idea that movement creates
power. Prayer wheels rotated clockwise to send
mantra to the divinities. Usually brass cylinder
with pre-Sanskrit script, ranja, writing. The
wheel contains parchment like paper upon which
the Tibetan incantation OM MANI PADME HUM (image
top) is repeatedly printed. Some rough translations
of this mantra are
Oh,
the jewel (mani) concealed in the lotus (padma)
ah.
One
specific interpretation of this incantation is
that of a prayer the Boddhisatva Padmapani who
controls reincarnation
Oh,
Padmapani, give me the jewel in the lotus, which
is the blessing on non-rebirth or attainment of
Nirvana through the acceptance of the Buddhist
doctrine.
A
more general interpretation is Oh, may the jewel
remain in the lotus, meaning may Buddha's teachings
remain pure in our minds and souls.
Vajra
or Dorje looks like two crowns with bases attached
by a metal ball. Each crown has four outer spokes
and one inner spoke to represent the meditation
Buddhas, united at the top to convey that they
are but one. Means "thunderbolt" symbolic
attribute of Hindu god Indra who is the divine
power of natural forces, and the "diamond",
the substance that is translucent and unbreakable.
The Dorje is primarily a symbol of power but is
also a representation of the male.
Ghanta,
the bell is bronze and topped with crown shaped
handle. The bell symbolizes the female. In a metaphysical
sense, male represents knowledge and female represents
wisdom. Both important to rituals.
Statues
and temples for Buddha or to Bodhisattvas.
Chaitya,
a somewhat conical stone structure, shrines for
gratitude or worship. Always show four statues
representing each of the dhyana-Buddhas or meditation
Buddhas.
Facing
north, Buddha Amogasiddhi with right hand upward
and palms outward to express fearlessness and
blessing (associated with green).
Facing
east, Buddha Akshobya, right hand outstretched
with fingers touching earth calling Earth-goddess
to witness that Buddha resisted temptations put
forth by demon Mara who was trying to lure him
away from his meditations. Also thought of as
calling to witness Buddha's deserving supreme
enlightenment. (blue)
Facing
south, Buddha Ratnasambhawa with right hand palm
outward to express compassion. yellow
Facing
west, Buddha Amithaba, two hands folded, resting
on lap in meditation. red.
Some
chaityas or scrolls show a fifth central figure,
the Buddha Vairocana who is above or in the middle
of the previously mentioned four. Hands folded
in front of chest he is perfect sovereignty as
"turning the wheel of the Buddhist doctrine."
white.
Another
common Buddhist statue is that of the Tara, either
white or green Tara. Were the two wives of Srong
Tsam Gampo, King of Tibet that they converted
to their faith, Buddhism. Deified.
Bodhisattvas
honored often are Padmapani, holds a lotus flower
and is master or reincarnations. Manjushri is
honored as bearer of wisdom by Buddhists and Hindus.
Holds book of knowledge in left hand and a sword
to strike ignorance with right.
A
historical look demonstrates that artistic expression
reflects the religious and ethnic diversity within
the valley. Nepalese art became prominent in the
13th century through the work of Balbahu, also
known as Arniko, an architect for the king of
Tibet and possibly the Emperor of China. Nepalese
art is recognized for its candour, simplicity
and harmony balanced with intricacy and decoration.
The Malla dynasty promoted all forms of artistic
expression from the 14th to the 19th centuries.
Tibetan forms of expression influenced art in
the valley beginning in the 17th century. Tantric
and Buddhist themes introduced greater differentiation
between Nepalese and Indian art.
