This long painting depicts Avalokiteshvara’s stories, which run here from right to left. According to one story about Simhala, the head of the merchants, when he was on a business trip at sea with his colleagues, a forceful storm capsized their boat. The merchants managed to reach the shore of an island. Beautiful women, who were actually ogresses with orange hair, welcomed them. The merchants enjoyed being with them. Simhala, however, remained alert. He saw Avalokiteshvara in the flickering flame of an oil lamp. The god told him to escape from the island as soon as possible. Simhala gathered his friends and rushed to the shore where they found a divine white horse waiting for them. Mounted on the horse, they flew over the ocean with the ogresses chasing them. Only Simhala reached home.

Artwork Details

Title
Temple Banner (Bilampau) Depicting Avalokiteshvara's Legends Described in the Newari Version of the Gunakarandavyuha Sutra
Dimensions
14 x 950 in. (35.6 x 2413 cm)
Medium
Pigment on cloth
Origin
Nepal
Classification(s)
paintings
Date
17th century
Credit Line
Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, Gift of Michael Phillips and Juliana Maio
Object number
C2007.35
Published references
* Vajracarya, Gautamavajra. Nepalese Seasons: Rain and Ritual. New York: Rubin Museum of Art, 2016. Cat 27: pp. 28-29, 89-96, fn. 199-200.

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Compassion

Concepts

The cultivation of a strong aspiration to help sentient beings overcome suffering. In Buddhist Mahayana teaching, compassion is the seed for attaining full enlightenment.  

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Merit

Concepts

In Buddhism merit is accumulated through engaging in positive actions that lead to positive results, such as better rebirths. Buddhists gain merit by making offerings, donating to those in need, reciting mantras, and other good deeds.

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Storytelling

Concepts

A vehicle for the preservation and transmission of knowledge. The Buddha’s teachings were originally passed down through oral transmission and storytelling, and stories of the Buddha’s past lives are considered an important source of inspiration and guidance.

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Bodhisattvas

Figure Type

Beings who aspire to become fully awakened like the Buddha and are dedicated to helping others on the path to enlightenment.

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Nepalese Regions

Region

The Himalayan kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley were significant centers of Buddhist culture. Nepalese kings, Buddhist institutions, and ordinary people patronized the vibrant art guilds. The artistic traditions of the regions are well-known in Tibetan areas and beyond, and Newar artists have always been in high demand throughout Tibetan regions and Inner Asia.

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