Dharmadhatu Vagisvara is a form of Bodhisattva Manjushri, “Lord of Wisdom”, in which he embodies the realm of Dharma, “the ultimate truth”. Manjushri is the patron saint of scholars and master of science. Its typical attributes are the flame sword and the book of wisdom. With the flame sword, he drives away the demons of darkness and thus enables the beginning of all things. He is praised every morning. The figure shown here has eight arms. In addition to his typical attributes such as the flame sword and the book of wisdom, he holds an arrow, bow and alms pot in his hands and forms the gesture of the highest enlightenment (Uttarabodhimudra).
Details
- Title : Bodhisattva Dharmadhātu Vāgīśvara (A Form of Bodhisattva Mañjuśri / Manjushri)
- Year : 18th century
- Classification : Sculpture
- Medium : Bronze, gilded
- Dimension : Object size: 46.5 x 23 x 20 cm (estimate) ; Weight: 7.7 kg
- Accession No : Identification number. I 5946
- Country/ Geo-location : NEPAL
- Collection : Pergamon Museum
- Collection : Museum of Asian Art South, Southeast and Central Asia
- Photo : Museum for Asian Art of the State Museums in Berlin - Prussian Cultural Heritage Photographer: Iris Papadopoulos