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Manjusri and Prajna Bodhisattvas
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Manjusri and Prajna Bodhisattvas
NEPAL; circa 16th century; Gilt bronze; H: 27 cm; Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena, California, USA
Manjusri and his consort, Prajna, sit side by side on an oval lotus throne. Manjusri is larger and in male form, sitting in full lotus position. The smaller Prajna is depicted as female and sits in the position of royal ease, with right leg extended beyond the throne. Both Bodhisattvas wear five-leaf crowns fronted by a lotus-flower ornament and are encircled by ornate nimbuses surrounded by flames. Manjusri’s hands are in Dharmacakra (Dharma wheel) mudra and support the long stems of lotuses that blossom at shoulder level. These carry the Bodhisattva’s attributes, a sword on the left and a sutra on the right. Prajna’s left hand is in vitarka (teaching) mudra, while the other rests on her knee, and these too support lotuses. |
