San Diego Museum of Art - Manuscript of "The Five Protections", front cover

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Bookmark: https://collection.sdmart.org/objects-1/info/26418

Manuscript of "The Five Protections", front cover

Sri Ananda Buddhi, Nepalese, b. 12th century

Creation date: 1138

Creation place: Nepal

Other Information

Medium and Support: Opaque watercolor and ink on palm leaves and wood boards

Credit Line: Edwin Binney 3rd Collection

Accession Number: 1990.156.a

Dimensions: 2 3/16 in. x 23 5/8 in. (5.56 cm x 60.01 cm)

Label Copy

Sonya Quintanilla (2014) Quebec Label
Bookcovers from a Pancharaksha («The Five Protections»)
Nepal, 1138
Opaque watercolor on wood
Edwin Binney 3rd Collection, 1990.156.a, .b
The top and bottom covers of South Asian palm leaf manuscripts were usually painted on their inside surfaces with depictions of deities or enlightened beings related to the content of the text. The Pancharaksha («The Five Protections») is one of the most popular Buddhist texts; it consists of five extended prayers that protect against dangers and ailments, such as snakebites or smallpox.
Since the Pancharaksha is a Buddhist text produced in a tantric milieu, the five so-called Cosmic Buddhas, who are fundamental in tantric Buddhism as sources for most texts and deities, adorn the inside face of the top cover. Each of the Cosmic Buddhas is associated with a specific spatial direction, color, and hand position. A bodhisattva and lay and monastic donors have been painted at the ends of the covers. The bottom cover features the enthroned Buddhist goddess of wisdom, Prajnaparamita, flanked by six other goddesses called Paramitas, or “Perfections.” These Paramitas resonate with the goddesses who preside over each of the five prayers of the Pancharaksha.
Last Updated: 9/5/2017

Exhibition

This object was included in the following exhibitions:

Young Art 2002 , 3/1/2002 - 6/1/2002

Bibliography

This object has the following bibliographic references:

Dr. Sonya Quintanilla and Patrick Coleman. Visiones de la India Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. Madrid, 2012
Page Number: 38-40, 256-7, Figure Number: cat 7, 38, 39, 41

Dr. Sonya Quintanilla and Patrick Coleman. Visiones de la India (Mexico) Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia. Mexico , 2013
Page Number: 151, Figure Number: cat 7, p 158

Jinah Kim. A Book of Buddhist Goddesses: Illustrated Maunscripts of the "Pancaraksa Sutra" and Their Ritual Uses Artibus Asiae Publishers. 2010
Page Number: 259-329, Figure Number: 1-5

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This object is a member of the following portfolios:

South and Southeast Asia

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