Art of Newar Buddhism

Dina Bangdel
Virginia Commonwealth University
Methodology and Approach

• Art as visual document

• Art as Practice
1. Iconography : visual language

2. Iconology: symbolism / practice and

concepts

3. Style/Aesthetic conventions:
social / cultural history
Cakrasamvara
and Vajravarahi.

Ca. 15th century.

LACMA
Root
Teaching
Lineage

Reading
a
painting
Main
Deity

Protectors
Maitri
Dakini

Newar
artists
in Tibet

Paldan
Lhamo
Maitri Dakini
Palden Lhamo (Sri Devi)
(Akasa Yogini)
Nepal
Ca. 19th century
45.72x63.50cm (18x25in)
Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art

(acc. #P1994.26.2)
Cakrasamvara and Vajravarahi
Nepal
Ca. 15th century.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
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 Mahasiddha Virupa (*associated with Hevajra)

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 QuickTime™ and a
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Hevajra
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Namasangiti
Manjusri
Manjusri Namasangiti

*personification of text,
Namasangiti Tantra

“Chanting the Names [of

Manjusri]
Art in Context
Sakya Monastery, Tibet
Newar Buddhist Architecture

Reading the sacred space:

Iconographic program

BAHI (with cells)

BAHA (married householders)
Cha Bahi. Established by Charumati, daughter of Asoka.
Plan of Bahi

1. Central Stupa
2. Public Shrine
3. Cells for monastic
6thc rock-cut monasteries Bahi, Plan
India Nepal
Monasteries as 3-D Mandalas
Baha Architecture: 3 Components:

1. Central Caitya
2. Public Shrine
3. Secret Tantric Shrine
Baha Architecture: 3 Components:

1. Central Caitya: Svayambhu: vivifies the space

2. Public Shrine: Shakyamuni
3. Secret Tantric Shrine : Cakrasamvara and
Vajravarahi
Central Caitya:
Vivifies the sacred space
Svayambhu Caitya enshrined
 Iconography # 2:
Public Shrine

Strut are Manjusri’s

Dharmadhatu Mandala
Iconography #2 : Dharmadhatu Mandala
 Iconography # 3:
Chakrasamvara Mandala
Chakrasamvara Mandala
Self-Arisen “Pithas” Power-Places of the Mother Goddess
Namasangiti
Manjusri
Five Jina “Victor”
Buddhas
Practitioner as Buddha
Priest as Vairocana Vairocana. Ca. 8th century. India.
Asia Society, NY
Vajrasattva, ca. 9thc. Bangladesh Priest as Vajrasattva
Art as
Practice

Cakrasamvara
Ca. 15th century
Newar Artists in Tibet

Los Angeles
County Museum of Art
Vajradhatu Initiation, LACMA, 2003