On loan to The Met The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Ushnishavijaya, The Goddess of Longevity
Not on view
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.
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