AN ILLUMINATED COVER AND FRONTISPIECE OF AN ASHTASAHASRIKA PRAJNAPARAMITA MANUSCRIPT West Tibet, Guge, late 15th Century

i) the manuscript title “Prajnaparamita in eight thousand verses, Volume A” in raised gold script within rectangular space at the centre of the cover, flanked by Shakyamuni Buddha to the left seated in vajraparyankasana on a snow lion throne, with Sariputra and Maudgalyayana standing at either side holding patra and khakkhara, with Tara, the Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje, Dipamkara Buddha and Jetsun Rimpoche below, all identified by inscription, four-armed Prajnaparamita to the right of the manuscript title with hands in dharmachakra mudra and holding vajra and pustaka on golden lotus flowers at the shoulder, seated in vajraparyankasana on a snow lion throne with standing bodhisattvas at either side, Drungchen Choje, Maitreya, Zutön Nawangpa, and Jambhala below, all identified by inscription, with the sixteen arhats, the attendant Dharmatala and patron Hvashang depicted above and below the manuscript title and each identified by inscription

ii) the illuminated frontispiece with illustrations of different episodes of the Prajnaparamita text surrounding the central rectangular panel, with Buddha in the upper register narrating the story of the bodhisattva Sadaprarudita seeking enlightenment, his meeting with the Hindu god Indra, his encounter with a merchant’s daughter, and in the lower register Sadaprarudita travelling with the daughter, her parents and maids by chariot towards Gandhavati, the paradise of Bodhisattva Arya Dharma, the temple courtyard showing the bodhisattva teaching the dharma and worshiping a gold and lapis lazuli Prajnaparamita text bound in a white khatta and placed in the upper tiers of the temple, the scenes described in captions throughout

Himalayan Art Resources item no. 18451 and 18452.
7 7/8 by 27 9/16 in. (20 by 70 cm)