Illumination of Prajnaparamita

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Illumination of Prajnaparamita

c. 18th century

Artist/maker unknown, Nepalese

Lavish loose-leaf books, made up of sheets like these indigo-dyed examples, included both gold text and golden illuminations. The goddess in the center of the top sheet is Prajnaparamita, the embodiment of a famous text of the same name that means "The Perfection of Wisdom." Wearing luxurious clothing decorated with gold flowers, she holds a string of pearl prayer beads and a book with white pages and red covers. Colorful wish-granting jewels dangle from her throne. Patrons believed that they reaped spiritual rewards (called merit) by commissioning elaborate copies of this text, and gained more merit every time the book was read.

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Object Details

Title:

Illumination of Prajnaparamita
The Sutra of Eternal Life (Aparimitayuhasutradharani)

Date:

c. 18th century

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Nepalese

Medium:

Gold and opaque watercolor on paper

Dimensions:

Folio (each page dimensions): 2 1/2 × 5 7/8 inches (6.4 × 14.9 cm) 1 1/2 × 6 × 2 1/2 inches (3.8 × 15.2 × 6.4 cm)

Classification:

Books/Manuscripts/Information Artifacts

Credit Line:

Gift of N. M. Heeramaneck, 1931

Accession Number:

1931-71-1a1

Geography:

Made in Nepal, Asia

Context:

Dynasty: Malla Dynasty (1200-1769)

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