Prajnaparamita flanked by two bodhisattvas, folio 187 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Prajnaparamita flanked by two bodhisattvas, folio 187 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra) is a 14 unspecified by Unknown, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 14
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

You see a bright blue goddess sitting cross-legged on a lotus, hands in teaching poses, flanked by two smaller figures in red and white robes. This painting isn’t just art—it’s part of a sacred book. The goddess, Prajnaparamita, *is* the text itself, a rare moment where words and image merge. Made in 1119, it traveled from a monastery in India to Nepal, where artists gave it color and life. To see more like this, look up eastern india, bihar, vikramashila monastery.

The story of this work

Overview

In the center of the page is a seated goddess of wisdom, named Prajnaparamita, who personifies the content of the text itself. A red and white bodhisattva also attend her on either side. This manuscript, consisting of 188 double-sided folios, was calligraphed by a scribe at a monastery in northeastern India, commissioned by a monk from Nepal. Judging from the style of the paintings, they are the work of Nepalese artists.

Read the full account in the museum source.