Image title: Hayagriva Lokesvara

This bronze sculpture shows an image of Hayagriva Lokesvara Swagata Mandala, from the 19th century A.D.—This narrative panel is designed on the versions of the story described in the Mahayana sect of Buddhist literatures. The story Dharmakara tells that a Buddhist monk of the remote past remembered Amitabha at the time of his last breath with the desire to be reborn at Sukhavati Heaven, the Land of the Buddha. His wish was fulfilled and he was believed to have been born again in the form of Amitabha. Then the Mahayana Buddhist scriptures says there was a common belief that those who recalled the name of Amitabha at the last moment of their life could be born again at Sukhavati Heaven.

The Nepali Bronze artist exactly caught the theme as narrated in the Buddhist literature and beautiful depicted their imagination in this panel. Here Yamaraja, the God of Death, is shown standing as a symbolic gesture of death. After death, Amitabha is depicted at the center portraying his rebirth at Sukhavati heaven. He is surrounded by various Bodhisattvas, monks, and many other Gods and Goddesses. Apart from that, Sukhavati, one among many Avalokitesvaras belonging to the family of Amitabha and the image of Dharmadhatu Chaitya are also nicely depicted in the panel.

This panel is considered to be the exotic creation of Nepali Bronze artists.

Hayagriva Lokesvara Swagata Mandala can also be spelled as Hayagriv, Lokeshvara, Lokesvar, Lokeshvar Lokeswar, Lokeshwar, Svagata or Hayagrīva Lokeśvara Svāgata Maṇḍala (हयग्रीव लोकेश्वर स्वागत मण्डल).

Gallery information:

The National Museum of Nepal (Rashtriya Museum) houses a variety of sculptures, carvings, statues, paintings and other objects grouped according to the major religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism. This photo is from the Hindu bronze sculpture (dhatu-kala) section.