Untitled

Unknown

late 14th–early 15th century · Distemper on cloth · Asian Art

The center of this mandala depicts the moon god Chandra flanked by two female archers who shoot arrows of light to drive away the darkness. Chandra holds two lotuses and rides a chariot pulled by seven geese, an arrangement that parallels depictions of the sun god Surya, whose chariot is pulled by horses. Surrounding the central tableau are the nine planetary deities, which includes another depiction of Chandra. Across the top of the painting are the five directional buddhas (tathagatha) flanked by bodhisattvas at either end. The bottom register is divided into three panels that depict, from left to right, a ceremony, a group of musicians and dancers, and a group of patrons. Worship of the moon god Chandra was popular in Nepali Buddhism in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, although it appears to have declined thereafter.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 14th–early 15th century

Medium

Distemper on cloth

Culture

Nepal (Kathmandu Valley)

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Uzi Zucker, 1981