Mandala of Vajradhara, Manjushri and Sadakshari -Lokeshvara
Not on view
Commissioned by the Ming dynasty for the Huguo monastery (the primary residence for Tibetan monks in Beijing), this painting features the three great bodhisattvas who protect the nation. The top figure of Vajradhara (an esoteric form of Vajrapani and the source of the tantras) embodies the power of enlightenment, while below are the bodhisattvas Manjushri and Avalokiteshvara. Instead of the eighty-four ascetic mahasiddhas (tantric masters), the upper part of the painting is filled with celestials and generalized bodhisattvas. More typical of Tibetan iconography are the fierce protectors running down the spine and across the base. Although a product of a Chinese workshop, the style of this painting reflects an awareness of Nepalese forms. According to the Tibetan lunar calendar, the date at the base of the work corresponds to the celebration of the Buddha’s enlightenment and parinirvana (death).
On view from February 25, 2022–October 30, 2022
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