Prajnaparamita
Description
Sir Ratan Tata Art Collection
The scriptures of Prajnaparamita, goddess of transcendental wisdom, deposited by the Buddha in Nagaloka, are believed to have been salvaged by Nagarjuna in the 2nd century CE. This being before the time of the Dhyani Buddhas, Prajnaparamita, like Vasudhara, is not assigned to any one kula (family). It was much later that she was considered to emanate from all Dhyani Buddhas. However, Newar Buddhism which lays great stress on the worship of Triratna (the three jewels: Buddha, Dhamma, and Samgha) identifies these with the Adi Buddha, Prajnaparamita, and Avalokiteshvara respectively. Besides the Gunakarandavyuha, two other texts, Mahajjatakamala and Bhadrakalpanavadana, carry extensive passages on the worship of this Trinity, especially in Nepal.
Her lotus seat is equally finely chiselled with two rows of upper petals and a row of lower petals. To this is attached a trefoil arch aureole with a beaded inner border and flame tips along the outer edge. The three-line inscription on the pedestal reads:
“On the eighth day of the bright half of Shravana month of Nepal Samvat 815 [1695 CE] in the name of the mother
Manju, the group of four brothers led by Ranamuni commissioned this image in the name of their mother Manju.”
Collection
Himalayan Art
Object Type
Figurine religious object
Material
Gilt bronze
Schools/Culture/Period
--
Technique
--
Date
Nepal Samvat 815 = 1695 CE
Location
Nepal
Dimension
20.4 x 13.6 x 10.5 cm