A THANGKA DEPICTING SHADAKSHARI LOKESHVARA IN HIS POTALA PURE LAND, 18TH CENTURY

Tibet. Distemper and gold on cloth. Finely painted with the four-armed deity within a palace in his pure land on the island of Potalaka. Seated in dhyanasana atop a lotus cushion raised on a draped lion throne before a bowl of offerings surrounded by worshipers, monks, attendants, Bardo deities, and bodhisattvas, some of whom can also be found in the extended pavilions, Shadakshari’s primary hands are held in dharmachakra mudra at the chest while the secondary arms are raised at the shoulders, his body richly adorned with fine silks and gold jewelry, below an image of Buddha Amitabha.

Provenance: From an English private collection.
Condition: Overall good condition with expected wear, soiling, minor creasing and light flaking with associated minute losses to pigments, and small areas of touchup. The frame with signs of use and minor repairs.

Dimensions: Image size 68 x 50 cm, Size incl. frame 135 x 85 cm

Mount Potalaka rises high from the ocean, with the three-story palace perched on its slopes. The island is surrounded by imposing rocky cliffs, and it is rich in trees and flora. Swirling auspicious clouds gather at the summit. The upper margin with two Buddhas the corners. Outside of the walled enclosure there are several vignettes with various self-arising manifestations of Avalokiteshvara preaching the Dharma to different groups of disciples, each according to their needs. A lotus pond is situated directly below the main gate of the palace. The lower margin centered by Green Tara within her own pure land of the Rosewood Forest, flanked by Manjushri on the left and Vajrapani on the right, all above a lengthy inscription in Tibetan script.

The painting is mounted as a hanging scroll with a fine silk brocade frame dating from the same period or slightly later, intricately woven with double gourds enclosing the Eight Treasures (babao) and borne on leafy scrolling vines against grounds of blue, yellow, and orange, centered below the image by a square panel decorated with a dragon roundel.

This vibrant painting depicts the celestial dwelling of Avalokiteshvara, known as Mount Potalaka. According to Tibetan accounts, the location of the island is positioned off the southeastern shores of India, and narratives tell the story of Buddhist adepts’ journey to Potalaka. The mountain is first mentioned in the final chapter of the Avatamsaka Sutra, the Gandavyuha Sutra, where the chapter's protagonist journeys to seek the advice of Avalokiteshvara. The Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, traditional home of the Dalai Lama, is named after the Potalaka pure land.

The four-armed Avalokiteshvara is also sometimes referred to as Shadakshari which are the two Sanskrit words shad and akshari meaning ‘six syllables’. This refers to the most common and well-known mantra of Avalokiteshvara: Om mani padme hum. The two middle words of the mantra, mani padme, are an epithet unique to Avalokiteshvara meaning 'jeweled lotus'.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Nagel, Stuttgart, 6 December 2022, lot 53
Price: EUR 14,575 or approx. EUR 15,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: Potalaka - The "Pure Land of Avalokiteshvara" Tibet, Kham, 18th c
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject as well as the similar manner of painting and composition. Note the size (76.2 x 53.3 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams New York, 23 July 2020, lot 854
Price: USD 10,075 or approx. EUR 11,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A thangka of Padmasambhava in his pure land, Tibet, 18^th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related manner of painting and composition. Note the size (62.2 x 43.8 cm).