ticketsMember | Make a donation

Mandala of Chandra, God of the Moon

late 14th–early 15th century
Not on view
Chandra, the personification of the moon, along with Surya, the solar deity, is shared across all religions of early India. The planetary deities appear early in Indian cosmologies, and here, Chandra is surrounded by the eight other planets, constituting the full ensemble of the nine planetary deities, the navagrahas. Surya is seated on his chariot, accompanied by his charioteer and seven sacred geese (hamsa), and holds a white lotus stem in each hand. He is flanked by two female archers, whose arrows dispel the light of the sun; the framing aureole is a radiant white, as is Chandra’s body. Across the lower register are two consecration scenes: a Vajracharya priest officiating (at left) and the donor, together with seven members of his family, offering a lamp (at right).

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Mandala of Chandra, God of the Moon
  • Period: early Malla period
  • Date: late 14th–early 15th century
  • Culture: Nepal (Kathmandu Valley)
  • Medium: Distemper on cloth
  • Dimensions: Overall: 16 x 14 1/4 in. (40.6 x 36.2 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Uzi Zucker, 1981
  • Object Number: 1981.465
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Achala with His Consort Vishvavajri, Distemper on cloth, Nepal, Kathmandu Valley
Achala with His Consort Vishvavajri
Nepal, Kathmandu Valley
1525–50
Acala, The Buddhist Protector, Distemper and gold on cloth, Nepal, Kathmandu Valley
Acala, The Buddhist Protector
Nepal, Kathmandu Valley
equivalent to February / March 1322
Chakrasamvara and Vajravarahi, Distemper on cotton, Nepal, Kathmandu Valley
Chakrasamvara and Vajravarahi
Nepal, Kathmandu Valley
1575–1600
Mandala of the Sun God Surya, Kitaharasa, Distemper on cotton, Nepal, Kathmandu Valley
Mandala of the Sun God Surya
Kitaharasa
likely 1379
Book Cover with Four Durgas, Distemper on wood, Nepal (Kathmandu Valley)
Book Cover with Four Durgas
Nepal (Kathmandu Valley)
18th century

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.