Vasudhara ("Bearer of Gems")

Object Details

• Description

  Vasudhara, the Buddhist goddess of prosperity, holds symbols of wisdom and purpose in her six hands: a sheaf of grain, a vessel symbolizing long life, wish fulfilling jewels, and the Prajnaparamita Sutra, which signifies her advanced Buddhist wisdom. She cups her upper right hand to her ear, listening to herself sing prayers or powerful mantras. Adorned with small Buddhas, her unusual crown is typically reserved for priests knowledgeable in secret teachings.

• Inscriptions

  Inscription: Om, on Thursday, the third lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month of Phalguna of Nepal era 202 (Feb–March 1082), the couple Abonana and Maina donated this venerable Vasudhara.

• Provenance

  From 1964 to 2012

  Susanne K. Bennet (b. 1938), purchased in Old Delhi, Delhi, India. [1]

  From 2012

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Susanne K. Bennet, Washington, DC [2]

  Notes:

  [1] Susanne K. Bennet purchased the bronze in Old Delhi in 1964. She and her husband were posted to Delhi between 1963 and 1967, with the United States Agency for International Development and then with the Department of State. See email from Mrs. Bennet dated August 22, 2012 to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery detailing the circumstances of the purchase, copy in object file, Collections Management. See also Acquisition Justification, object file, Collections Management Office.

  [2] See Acquisition Consideration Form, object file, Collections Management Office.

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Art of Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas (March 25, 2023 - ongoing)

  Encountering the Buddha: Art and Practice Across Asia (October 14, 2017 to February 6, 2022)

  Devi: The Great Goddess (March 28 to September 6, 1999)

  Sculpture of South Asia and the Himalayas (November 19, 1992 to July 9, 2017)

  Nepal: Where the Gods are Young (1975)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Mrs. Susanne K. Bennet (born 1938)

• Origin

  Nepal

• Credit Line

  Gift of Susanne K. Bennet in memory of Felicja "Lusia" Arendt (1928-1942?)

• Type

  Sculpture

• On View

  Sackler Gallery 22a: The Art of Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas

• Restrictions and Rights

  CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1000s

• Name

  Bennet, Susanne K.

• Place

  Nepal

• Topic

  Gilding, South Asian and Himalayan Art, Art, Inlay (process), Sculpture, Mantra, Gods, Vasudhara, Lotus, Metal-work

• Culture

  Buddhists, Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Sculpture

• On View

  Yes