Wood plank painted red overall with 18 x 5 grid in gold; each compartment (except for central 12) filled with seated cross-legged figure in gold and black; 2 figures seated on lotus cushions at center in red, gold and black; one short side carved with scrolls and top half of demon face

Book Cover with Virupa and Guru with Amitabhas, 14th-15th century

Unknown artist, expand_more

This painting would have decorated the interior of a book cover, visible only to those few who commissioned and cared for the manuscript it protected. The central image features a charismatic man with bulging eyes, identifiable as the Mahasidda Virupa, a historical figure from India (c. 600s ce) famous for his superhuman cerebral powers. Here, Virupa points to the sun, commanding it to stay in place, illustrating a story in which he promised a bartender he would pay his bill (and stop drinking) only when the sun set. Virupa, and his association with Vajrayana Buddhist teachings, was an important figure for the Sakyapa Order of Tibetan Buddhism; he is seen in dialogue with the Lama (teacher) Sakya Pandita (1182–1251). This double portrait is surrounded by a golden grid of 78 images of the Cosmic Buddha Amitayas, who holds in his lap a vase containing the elixir of immortality, symbolizing that enlightenment results in boundless life.

Details
Title
Book Cover with Virupa and Guru with Amitabhas
Role
Artist
Accession Number
99.126
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know

Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.

Wood plank painted red overall with 18 x 5 grid in gold; each compartment (except for central 12) filled with seated cross-legged figure in gold and black; 2 figures seated on lotus cushions at center in red, gold and black; one short side carved with scrolls and top half of demon face