PAINT YOUR OWN KSITIGARBHA!

Foreword:
This is something I like to do
during my free time.
I am not an expert in technology
the following steps explains how i usually
paint my ksitigarbha bodhisattva
with Microsoft Paint or Adobe Photoshop CS3


this is how our final painting will look like
after 10 simple steps! =)


step 1:
open microsoft paint
draw "circles" and "rectangles" with the given templates
for the collars i used the "line" template
to draw out the outlines
then use "fill" to colour the collars blue


step 2:
using an orange "line"
i draw out roughly where i want the robe to be
also i added a little "rectangle" for the bottom of the robe


step 3:
next i added ears using the "circle" template
and "fill" the robe with red and light orange


step 4:
then i used the brown "paintbrush"
to draw ksitigarbha's face
i drew a smiling face
you may want your ksitigarbha with a serious face
next i used yellow "line" to draw brick-like patterns on his robe


step 5:
this is how your ksitigarbha should look like by now
pat yourself on the shoulder for the effort


step 6: (optional)
you may want to give your ksitigarbha a crown
i used orange "line" again to draw the outline


step 7:
next i used "fill" to colour the crown light orange
and the background with a nice contrasting blue
remember to fill the insides of his jingle staff
which he will be using to alert small insects and animals
of his approaching so as to not harm them accidentally
(also to force open the gates of hell)


step 8: (optional)
using adobe photoshop cs3
i copied a layer
and using filter > render > lens flare
to make his wish-fulfilling jewel shine
aim the cross hair on his jewel
i've selected "movie prime" at 205% brightness


step 9: (optional)
to create his aura
i placed an oval over his head
right-click the layer, razterised the shape
and adjusted the opacity to 25%
finally select layer > flatten image


step 10:
i went back to paintbrush and added the caption
in fact everything can be done with photoshop alone
but i'm such am idiot at technology


here we have our D.I.Y. Ksitigarha Bodhisattva.
congratulations! =)

this is a simple way
for people of all ages and experiences
to draw their own ksitigarbha
with much practice and creativity
you may draw him professionally.






added a few cartoon buddha and bodhisattva
if anyone is interested in getting templates
for you to print out
to let your kids colour, do drop me a comment! =)

looks awesomely adorable on your desktop wallpaper too!

Who is Ksitigarbha?

Kṣitigarbha is a bodhisattva primarily revered in East Asian Buddhism, usually depicted as a Buddhist monk in the Orient. The name may be translated as "Earth Treasury", "Earth Store", "Earth Matrix", or "Earth Womb." Kṣitigarbha is known for his vow not to achieve Buddhahood until all hells are emptied; therefore, he is regarded as the bodhisattva of hell beings. Usually depicted as a monk with a nimbus around his shaved head, he carries a staff to force open the gates of hell and a wish-fulfilling jewel to light up the darkness.

Kṣitigarbha is one of the four principal bodhisattvas in East Asian Mahayana Buddhism. The others are Samantabhadra, Manjusri, and Avalokitesvara.

At the pre-Tang Dynasty grottos in Dunhuang and Longmen, he is depicted in classical bodhisattva shape. After the Tang Dynasty, he became increasingly depicted as a monk, carrying rosaries and a staff.

His full name in Chinese script is (traditional Chinese: 大願地藏菩薩; simplified Chinese: 大願地藏菩萨; pinyin: Dàyuàn Dìzàng Púsà), or the Bodhisattva King Dizang of the Great Vow, pronounced as Dayuan Dizang Pusa in Mandarin Chinese, Daigan Jizō Bosatsu in Japanese.

This is a reference to his pledge, as recorded in the sutras, to take responsibility for the instruction of all beings in six worlds, in the era between the death of Gautama Buddha and the rise of Maitreya Buddha. Because of this important role, shrines to Kṣitigarbha often occupy a central role in any Oriental Mahayana temples.



地藏菩萨（梵文：क्षितिगर्भ，Kṣitigarbha），或称地藏王菩萨，曾音译为“乞叉底蘗沙”。因其“安忍不动如大地，静虑深密如秘藏”，故名地藏。为佛教四大菩萨之一，与观音、文殊、普贤一起，深受世人敬仰。以其“久远劫来屡发弘愿”，故被尊称为大愿地藏王菩萨。

据《地藏菩萨本愿经》记载，地藏菩萨在忉利天宫受释迦牟尼佛的咐嘱，在释迦牟尼佛涅槃后至弥勒佛降生人间前这段时间内，六道一切众生皆由地藏菩萨来教化。祂无数次发出无以复加的大悲弘愿，自誓度尽六道一切众生自己最后成佛：“地狱未空，誓不成佛；众生度尽，方证菩提”

The Benefit Through Sight and Hearing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8zAxFC-wGE
13:20

Sakyamuni Buddha told Avalokitsevara Bodhisattva:
"If sentinent beings of the six categories of beings of the present and the future in different worlds, hear the name of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva at their dying stage, they will never be reborn to the three evil realms. If parents or relatives of the dying person sell all of his belongings, riches, properties, and use the money to make images of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, then the dying person comes to know the meritorious deeds done on his behalf, although the person should suffer a severe disease according to his own Karma, instead he fully recovers very quickly and has longevity.

If the dying person loses his life according to his Karma and should be cast into the evil realms, due to the meritorious deeds done on his behalf, all of his punishments will be extinguished and he will be born as a devaor human being, enjoying great bliss."

Chapter 12 - The Benefit Through Sight and Hearing
Sutra on Ksitigrabha Bodhisattva


复 次 观　世　音：
若　未　来　现　在　诸　世　界　中　，
六　道　众　生　临　命　终　时　， 得 闻　地　藏　菩　萨 名　
， 一 声　历 耳 根　者。　是　诸　众　生　， 永　不 历
三　恶 道　苦 。 何 况　临　命　终　时　， 父 母 眷　属　
， 将　是　命　终　人　舍　宅 、 财　物 、 宝　贝　、 衣
服 ，塑 画　地 藏　形　像。　或　使　病　人　未　终　之　
时， 眼　耳 见　闻　， 知　道　眷　属　将　舍　宅　、 宝
贝　等　为　其 自 身　塑 画　地 藏　菩 萨 形　像。　是　
人　若　是　业 报　合 受　重　病　者， 承　斯 功　德 ，
寻　即 除　愈 ，寿　命　增　益 。 是　人　若　是　业 报　
命　尽　， 应　有　一 切　罪　障　业 障　，合 堕　恶 趣
者。　承　斯 功　德 ， 命　终　之　后　， 即 生　人　天
， 受　胜　妙　乐 ， 一 切　罪　障　， 皆　悉 消　灭　。

见闻利益品第十二
地藏菩萨本愿经