Pratisara, One of the Five Protector Goddesses

Pratisara is one of the Five Protector Goddesses (Pancharaksha), personifications of five early Esoteric Buddhist spells (dharani) for protection against worldly harm. Of the five she is often considered the principal figure and protects from sin and illness.

This slender image bears typical characteristics of late 14th- and early 15th-century sculpture. The slim figure is slightly bent towards the left, and her multiple heads and arms are stacked in a way that makes them appear almost natural. The elegant sweep of her scarf billows to frame her head and flares out at the goddess’s knees.

The double-lotus base with its slim petals is typical for Nepalese craftsmanship of this period, both in Tibet and at the Chinese court. In its elegance of form and ornamentation this bronze demonstrates the continuing importance of Nepalese craftsmanship in Tibet, as famously represented by the sculptures of Densatil in Tsang region, central Tibet, to which this sculpture has been attributed.

However, evidence visible inside the unsealed base reveals a small metal fastening at the back of base, suggesting the sculpture once had a backing or aureole. It was probably not attached to a Densatil stupa, as the existing fixture is unlikely to have been able to bear the sculpture’s weight.