Ladakh
14th century
The right hand is extended in a giving gesture.
Ladakh
14th century
This appealing small painting most likely comes from Ladakh in the western Himalayas, where a number of monuments are decorated withsimilar naive paintings. This style is a local variant on contemporaneous central Tibetan painting styles with strong associations to Nepalese art, as visible here in the yellow dividing lines structuring the painting and the details of the back of the throne. Other minor details, such as the clothing of the Four Great Kings at the right of the bottom register, are indicative of Ladakh. The strict composition is somewhat softened by the painting’s handmade quality, with hand-drawn dividing lines.This red buddha with his left hand in the gesture of giving is one of the Eight Medicine Buddhas, most likely Abhijnaraja, who occupies the northeastern direction in the mandala. Not only do this figure’s color and gesture conform to the representation of Abhijnaraja, but many of the other figures shown in this painting are associated with the northeast. The buddha is flanked by two white bodhisattvas, one holding a vase, the other a lotus. In the bottom row from left to right are the directional guardians Yaksha and Ishana, the Earth Goddess, and the Four Great Kings. In the top corners are Maitreya and an Indian scholar.
The right hand is extended in a giving gesture.
Also known as vajra position, this posture is associated with meditation.
A state of “waking up” from illusion and seeing the true nature of reality. Buddha Shakyamuni attained awakening while meditating under the bodhi tree. Buddhist teaching explains that the accumulation of merit and wisdom are essential for achieving awakening, also known as enlightenment.
A meditation technique primarily used in tantric practice that involves imagining a deity in one’s mind or imagining oneself becoming a deity and carrying out various activities. Such techniques are intended to help a practitioner transform ordinary perception and achieve enlightened qualities.
An awakened being who understands the true nature of reality and is free from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. While there are many buddhas, Siddhartha Gautama is the historical Buddha, whose teachings became the foundation of Buddhism.
From the 8th to 13th century, Kashmir was a renowned center of Buddhist learning, arts, and culture. This fertile valley was a major source of artistic production for the western Himalayan kingdoms, which spanned parts of northern India and the Ngari region of western Tibet.
Get the latest news and stories from the Rubin, plus occasional information on how to support our work.