Vasudhara
(India, Nepal, and Tibet)
Vasudhara, the Buddhist goddess of wealth and abundance, brings well-being to her devotees and ensures a bountiful harvest. With her two lower hands, she makes the gesture of bestowal and holds an auspicious overflowing vase. Her two middle hands hold a cluster of jewels (on the goddess’s right, or the viewer’s left) and a sheaf of grain. With her upper right hand, she makes the gesture of honoring the Buddha, and in her upper left she holds a manuscript of the "Perfection of Wisdom" text ("Prajnaparamita Sutra"). Vasudhara is not only associated with material well-being, she is also an embodiment of wisdom.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Vajra Arts/Krishna Nathan, New York [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; purchased by John and Berthe Ford, Baltimore, February 27 1979.
Exhibitions
2006-2007 | Goddess Divine Energy. Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney. |
2001-2003 | Desire and Devotion: Art from India, Nepal, and Tibet in the John and Berthe Ford Collection. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore; Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara; Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque; Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham; Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong. |
Geographies
Nepal (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H with base: 9 15/16 × W: 7 1/2 × D: 6 in. (25.2 × 19 × 15.3 cm); H: 8 1/4 × W: 7 1/2 × D: 5 7/8 in. (21 × 19 × 15 cm)
Credit Line
Promised gift of John and Berthe Ford
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
F.156