Vasudhara

About this Brooklyn Icon

The Brooklyn Museum is commemorating its 200th anniversary by spotlighting 200 standout objects in its encyclopedic collection.

This graceful, welcoming figure depicts Vasudhara, the Buddhist goddess of wealth and abundance, worshipped primarily in the Himalayas. She is usually shown with multiple arms, holding a sheaf of grain (no longer present here) and a book (the small rectangular object in her upper left hand). Her lower hands make the gestures of wish-granting (palm out) and teaching (thumb touching index finger), which reflect the goddess’s generosity and guidance.

This image of Vasudhara is carved from wood; her arms are separate pieces that were slotted in. Temple architecture in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal is usually built of brick with elaborately carved wood trim. The majority of wood sculpture from this region is limited in size and shape because it appeared on window frames or on the brackets supporting a roof. This wood image is unusual because it is large, freestanding, and carved in the round. It served as an enshrined icon, the focus for worship, and was likely installed on an altar inside a temple. The painted surface remains largely intact, especially the bright colors of Vasudhara’s striped skirt; this, too, suggests that she spent most of her history under a roof, away from rain, snow, and bright sun.