Painted & carved manuscript cover with Manjushri flanked by Padmapani and Vajrasattva
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Chapel
Orientation 3
Display 6

ABM 041

 Code: ABM 041

  Country: Tibet (central)

  Style:

  Date: 1300 - 1400

  Dimensions in cm WxHxD: 36 x 12.5

  Materials: Wood, carved and painted

Painted and carved Manuscript cover with Manjushri, flanked by Avalokiteshvara Padmapani and Vajrasattva. 

Manjushri is accompanied on the left side by Avalokiteshvara Padmapani, and on the right side by Vajrasattva.Tibetans call this group the "Protectors of the three spiritual families", the holy triad in Tibetan Buddhism. These three bodhisattvas are victorious over the poisons of hatred, greed and ignorance / delusion. Manjushri wields a sword (khadga) with his right hand. The sword is double-edged: it cuts through the veils of ignorance and reveals both relative (everyday) and absolute (transcendent) reality. With his left hand he holds the stem of a blue lily (nilotpala) that blossoms over his shoulder. Manjushri is the male equivalent of the female deity Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom). The meaning of the Perfection of Wisdom is to recognise the emptiness of all things, which leads to the liberation from the circle of rebirths.