Page 28 - Maitri CollectionAsian Art Bonhams

3203
A GILT COPPER FIGURE OF MANJUSHRI NAMASANGITI
NEPAL, 13TH/14TH CENTURY
Himalayan Art Resources item no.58573
6 1/4 in. (15.8 cm) high

$250,000 - 350,000

尼泊爾 十三/十四世紀 銅鎏金十二臂文殊菩薩像

This masterfully sculpted figure of Manjushri Namasangiti represents a pinnacle of Newari
artistic expression. He has a magnetic aura centering on a handsome Newari face, and
despite his complex array of arms, the subtle flection of each finger seems to return the
viewer’s gaze back towards his deeply peaceful expression.

Manjushri Namasangiti is one of the most important deities within the Newari Buddhist
tradition of the Kathmandu Valley. As touched upon by the above excerpt, he is
conceived as the spiritual progenitor of all Tathagathas and the entire Buddhist cosmos.
As such his multi-armed form as Namansangiti here is a metaphor for his cosmic portent,
providing him with six arms to represent each of the five Buddha families and Vajrasattva.

The highly contoured primary hands held in an open vyakarana mudra symbolize
Vairocana’s gesture of exposition. The second pair of hands gesture tarpana mudra
sprinkling ambrosia into the bowl, while the fingertips touch the projecting head of
Shakyamuni coming out of it in patrastha amrita kshepana mudra. The third pair in
samadhi mudra supports the bowl in his lap containing amrita nectar. The fourth and fifth
pair of hands, outstretched, would have held the attributes of the sword, the manuscript,
and bow and arrow. The sixth pair is joined above the head in vajrachakra mudra, also
referred to as Adamantine Circle, symbolizing Mount Meru (uttarabodhi mudra), in turn
galvanizing the relationship with Vajrasattva.

26 | BONHAMS