Sneh Gangal has tried to paint this philosophical discourse in her two set of paintings that form a unique Mandala if put together. It is because of these two paintings that show gets its title, however other works are also focused on the same subject.
Sneh Gangal has painted this figurative mandala with delicacy and with all the details. In the detailing her mastery of kangara miniature plays very important role. She is a master of Kangra miniature most delicate in miniature schools and for that she has conferred president award too in 2003. She says, 'My understanding of miniature provided me strength to paint it because the delicacy it demanded can only be found in miniature”. Some of her figurative works are strikingly catching and breaks monotony of Buddha paintings by many artists. Many artists have taken Buddha as an object so there is objectification of Buddha but no essence. Whatever Sneh has painted she has painted with freedom and has succeeded in her exposition of Heart Sutra. It's is very tough to capture essence of Heart Sutra in a figurative language because of its philosophical abstraction. Sneh Gangal says, 'initially I was not finding the way but more studies and discussions on it with my husband I conceptualized it and finally works started coming out'. Heart Sutra is highly meditative in its philosophy, Avalokitesvara says about its spiritual quality thus , “Therefore, Shariputra, since bodhisattvas have no attainments, they rely on this perfection of wisdom and abide in it. Having no obstruction in their minds, they have no fear, and by going beyond error, they will reach the end of nirvana”.
In the Mahayana Buddhism Heart sutra is regarded as a gem and believed that by mere recitation and memorization of the sutra realization can take place. Heart sutra can also be used as a mantra since in its end a very powerful mantra has been taught. In Tibetan Buddhism Heart Sutra is used as tantra since it has all the three elements of tantra i.e. outer, inner and the secret. Sneh Gangal in her figurative exposition takes both the meanings of heart sutra. She says, “Its Tantrik interpretation gives us some imagery and I have tried to exploit it in my paintings”.
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