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Photograph by Bruce M. White, Rubin Museum of Art, 2010.
Temple Banner (Bilampau) Depicting Avalokiteshvara's Legends Described in the Newari Version of the Gunakarandavyuha Sutra
Photograph by Bruce M. White, Rubin Museum of Art, 2010.
Photograph by Bruce M. White, Rubin Museum of Art, 2010.

Temple Banner (Bilampau) Depicting Avalokiteshvara's Legends Described in the Newari Version of the Gunakarandavyuha Sutra

OriginNepal
Date17th century
Dimensions14 x 950 in. (35.6 x 2413 cm)
MediumPigment on cloth
Classification(s)
Credit LineRubin Museum of Art, Gift of Michael Phillips and Juliana Maio
Object numberC2007.35
DescriptionThis long painting depicts Avalokiteshvara’s stories, which run here from right to left. According to one story about Simhala, the head of the merchants, when he was on a business trip at sea with his colleagues, a forceful storm capsized their boat. The merchants managed to reach the shore of an island. Beautiful women, who were actually ogresses with orange hair, welcomed them. The merchants enjoyed being with them. Simhala, however, remained alert. He saw Avalokiteshvara in the flickering flame of an oil lamp. The god told him to escape from the island as soon as possible. Simhala gathered his friends and rushed to the shore where they found a divine white horse waiting for them. Mounted on the horse, they flew over the ocean with the ogresses chasing them. Only Simhala reached home.
Not on view

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