Ushnishavijaya, The Goddess of Longevity
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.Although all thangka paintings begin with a balanced mathematical sketch, colored and consecrated underdrawings like this one of Ushnishavijaya are rare. The goddess is venerated for her ability to bestow long life, perhaps suggesting the work was rushed to completion for the benefit of an ailing patron. Emerging from a lotus in her upper right hand is a tiny image of the cosmic Buddha Amitabha, who is also worshipped for longevity and presides over the western paradise of Sukhavati, where the devout hope to be reborn. Ushnishavijaya is ensconced within the drum and dome of a stupa, a funerary structure built to house the relics of the Buddha. This placement reflects her association with overcoming death through the triumph of enlightenment.
Artwork Details
- Title: Ushnishavijaya, The Goddess of Longevity
- Date: ca. 1300
- Culture: Central Tibet
- Medium: Distemper on silk
- Dimensions: Image: H. 9 in. (22.9 cm); W. 7 in. (17.8 cm)
- Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Lent by The Kronos Collections
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art