Vasudhara Mandala
Seated at the center of this mandala is Vasudhara (literally, “Stream of Gems”), a goddess of wealth and abundance. She embodies the pursuit of learning and the totality of Mahayana Buddhist wisdom, symbolized by the text that she holds in her upmost left hand. She is flanked by the bodhisattvas Avalokiteshvara (in red) and Vajrapani (in green). Directly below is the golden figure of Ila Devi, who mediates between the goddess and her devotees. Guarding the portals of the mandala are the yakshas Manibhadra, Purnabhadra, Dhana, and Veshavarna, protective nature deities. Other yakshas associated with material wealth appear throughout, pouring gems out of sacks and opening treasure chests, underscoring Vasudhara’s role as the harbinger of prosperity.
Artwork Details
- Title: Vasudhara Mandala
- Date: Dated to 1777 (Samvat 897)
- Culture: Nepal
- Medium: Distemper on cloth
- Dimensions: Image: 33 3/4 × 28 1/2 in. (85.7 × 72.4 cm)
Framed: 52 1/2 × 38 1/4 × 1 5/8 in. (133.4 × 97.2 × 4.1 cm) - Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Gift of Stephen and Sharon Davies Collection, 2015
- Object Number: 2015.299
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
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18th century
ca. 1700
mid-17th century
18th century
late 18th century
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