Not on display

Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita

Painting
ca. 1112 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Bengal (made)

Folio from an Asthasahasrika Prajnaparamita manuscript, in gouache and ink on palm leaf.

Object details

Categories
Buddhism
Manuscripts
Paintings
Illustration
Religion
Bonita Trust Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project
Object type
Painting
TitleAstasahasrika Prajnaparamita (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Painted in gouache and ink on palm leaf
Palm Leaf
Paint
Gouache
Ink
Painted
Brief description
Manuscript, Asthasahasrika Prajnaparamita, palm leaf, painted, Bengal, ca. 1112
Physical description
Folio from an Asthasahasrika Prajnaparamita manuscript, in gouache and ink on palm leaf.
Dimensions
  • Length: 54cm
  • Width: 6.3cm
Style
Pala Period
Copy number
Folio 89
Gallery label
(01/08/2017)
PAGE FROM A MANUSCRIPT OF THE ASHTASAHASRIKA PRAJNAPARAMITA SUTRA: THE BUDDHA VAJRASATTVA (CENTRE) AND THE BODHISATTVAS VAJRAPANI (LEFT) AND AKASHAGARBHA (RIGHT)
Opaque watercolour and ink on palm leaf
Bengal, c. 1112
IS.6-1958
The Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita Sutra (Perfection of Wisdom in 8000 Verses) is an important Mahayana Buddhist scripture. Udaya Sinha commissioned this manuscript of the sacred text for a monastery for the benefit of the souls of his parents.
Vajrasattva (centre), known as the Diamond Being, is the Adi or primordial Buddha. He holds the vajra – the diamond sceptre or thunderbolt – in his right hand and a bell in the left. He is flanked by bodhisattvas, beings who postpone their full enlightenment to help others achieve enlightenment.
The paintings were not made to illustrate the text but to protect it from harm and attract blessings. The holes in the palm leaf were used to bind the manuscript with cords. It would originally have been protected by wooden covers.
Object history
Acquired from Mr T Harris, 39 Westmark Point, Roehampton, London SW15, England
Historical context
From the E Vredenburg collection
Production
India
Bibliographic reference
E Vredenburg: 'The Continuity of Pictorial Tradition in the Art of India', Rupam No 1, Calcutta, 1920, figure 5 Losty, J P: 'The Art of the Book in India', p32 Losty, J P in Bautze-Picron, C (ed): 'Essays in Honour of James C Harle', New Delhi, 1990, pp 189-200 Bussagli, Mario: 'La Miniatura Indiana', Milan, 1966, plates 1 & 2 Bhaattacharya: 'Buddhist Iconography', p9 Gordon, A K: 'The Iconography of Tietan Lamaism', p62
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IS.6-1958

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O434118/astasahasrika-prajnaparamita-painting-unknown/
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