3-1Buddha’s life scenes, Tārā and Avalokiteśvara, folios 207v–208r, AsP Ms (Ms A6), ca. mid-11th century, Vigrahapāla III’s reign (ca. 1043–1069 CE), Wellcome Library (Sansk ε 1).
3-2Mañjuśrī, center panel folio 2r, AsP Ms (Ms A4), Gopāla IV’s 8th year (ca. 1140 CE), Nālandā. Asia Society, New York: Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Acquisitions Fund, 1987.1. Image courtesy of Asia Society Museum.
3-3Avalokiteśvara on Mt. Kuṭa in Gandhara (left panel) and Vajrapāṇi of Maṅgakoṣṭa in Oḍḍiyana, Swat valley (right panel), folio 89r, AsP Ms (Ms B1), 1015 CE (NS 135). Cambridge University Library, Add. 1643. Image reproduced by kind permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library.
3-4Tārā of Vaiśālī in Tirabhukti, left panel, folio 157v, AsP Ms (Ms B1), 1015 CE (NS 135), Cambridge University Library, Add. 1643. Image reproduced by kind permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library.
3-5Tārā in Potalaka (caption: potalake-bhagavatītārā), folio 113r, AsP Ms (Ms B2), ca. 1071 CE (NS 191), Asiatic Society, Kolkata, A.15. Photo by author.
3-6Sitātapatra (caption: sitātapatrabhaṭṭārakaḥ), folio 168r, AsP Ms (Ms B2), ca. 1071 CE (NS 191), Asiatic Society, Kolkata, A.15. Photo by author.
3-7Twelve-armed Avalokiteśvara (Lokanātha of Tulakṣetra in Varendra?), folio 267v, Pañcaviṃśatī Prajñāpāramitā (PvP) sūtra Ms (Ms B3), ca. 1100 CE (Harivarman’s 8th year). Baroda Picture Gallery and Museum. Photo by author.
3-8Buddha worshipped by four elephants (Gandhavatī Kalasavarapura?), folio 368r, PvP Ms (Ms B3), ca. 1100 CE (Harivarman’s 8th year). Baroda Picture Gallery and Museum. Photo by author.
4-1White dot with a vague sign of a letter on the reverse side of Mahāmāyūrī panel, folio 88r, Pañcarakṣā Ms (Ms C2), dated 1135 CE (NS 255). Edwin Binney 3rd Collection. The San Diego Museum of Art, 1990.156 http://www.SDMArt.org.
4-2Bodhisattva Dharmodgata preaching the Prajñāpāramitā (top, folio 295v), Sadāprarudita and merchant’s daughter paying homage to the Prajñāpāramitā (bottom, folio 296r), AsP Ms (Ms C3), dated ca. 1148 CE (NS 268). Asiatic Society, Kolkata, G.4203. Photo by author.
4-3Mahāśītavatī and Amoghasiddhi, folios 70v–71r, Pañcarakṣā Ms (Ms C6), Govindapāla’s 16th year (ca. 1191 CE). National Archive, Kathmandu Acc. No. 5.83. Photo by author.
4-4Six bodhisattvas, folios 63v–64r, Pañcarakṣā Ms, Madanapāla’s 13th regnal year (ca. 1156 CE). Museum Rietberg, Zurich, Gift of Fritz and Monika von Schulthess.
5-1Folios 1v–2r, AsP Ms (Ms D3), Rāmapāla’s 36th year (ca. 1113 CE), Victoria and Albert Museum IS4.1958-IS5.1958. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
5-2Illustrated folios (from top to bottom: 95r, 206r, 1v, 94v, 2r, 205v) of the AsP Ms (Ms D4), Gopāla’s 4th year (ca. 1136 CE), Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Acc. 20.589. Photograph © 2013 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
5-3Virupa, central Tibet (Sakya monastery), consecrated by Sakya Paṇḍita (ca. 1182–1251 CE), the Kronos Collection.
5-4Illustrated folios (1v–2r, 107r–106v, 222r–221v; note that 107r–106v and 222r–221v are switched in their order.), AsP Ms (Ms D9), Govindapāla’s 32nd year (ca. 1207 CE), Asiatic Society, Mumbai, Acc. No. I-210. Photo by author.
5-5Vajra Tārā, folio 222r, center panel, AsP Ms (Ms D9), Govindapāla’s 32nd year (ca. 1207 CE), Asiatic Society, Mumbai, Acc. No. I-210. Photo by author.
5-6Folios 1v–2r, AsP Ms (Ms D10), Lakṣmaṇasena’s 47th year (ca. 1226 CE), Bharat Kala Bhavan, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi. Photo by author.
5-7Folios 141v–142r, AsP Ms (Ms D10), Lakṣmaṇasena’s 47th year (ca. 1226 CE), Bharat Kala Bhavan, BHU, Varanasi. Photo by author.
5-8Sambara, folio 141v, center panel, AsP Ms (Ms D10), Lakṣmaṇasena’s 47th year (ca. 1226 CE), Bharat Kala Bhavan, BHU, Varanasi. Photo by author.
5-9Last two folios, AsP Ms (Ms D10), Lakṣmaṇasena’s 47th year (ca. 1226 CE), Bharat Kala Bhavan, BHU, Varanasi. Photo by author.
6-1Jewel-giving (Cintāmaṇi) Avalokiteśvara with devotees, folio 139v, end of chapter 15, AsP Ms, late 12th century. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift 2001. (2001.445l). Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Source: http://www.metmuseum.org/.
6-2Jewel-giving (Cintāmaṇi) Tārā with devotees, folio 140r, AsP Ms, late 12th century. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift 2001 (2001.445i). Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
6-3Unfinished panels depicting Buddha (top) and Prajñāpāramitā (bottom), folios 1v–2r, AsP Ms, ca. late 12th century, Kaiser Library, Kathmandu, Acc. No. 9.102. Photo by author.
6-4Unfinished panels depicting bodhisattvas, folios 29v–30r, AsP Ms, ca. late 12th century, Kaiser Library, Kathmandu, Acc. No. 9.102. Photo by author.
6-5Sambara panel, last folio of an AsP Ms, prepared by ācārya Prajñābala, Govindapāla’s 18th year (ca. 1193 CE), Asiatic Society, Kolkata, G.9989A. Photo by author.
7-1Paying homage to the book prior to the beginning of the ritual, Kwā Bāhā, Patan, Nepal, June 30, 2004. Photo by author.
7-2Main priest Cakra Raj Bajracharya (Vajrācārya), Min Bahadur Shakya (patron, jajmān), and the book on its throne-like seat in front of the main priest with offerings and ritual implements, Kwā Bāhā, Patan, Nepal, June 30, 2004. Photo by author.
7-3Vajrācāryas gathered to restore the Prajñāpāramitā manuscript, Kwā Bāhā, Patan, Nepal, July 19, 2004. Photo by author.
7-4Folios 127v–128r with original 13th-century painted panels, AsP Ms, NS 345 (1235 CE), Kwā Bāhā, Patan, Nepal. Photo by author.
7-5Folios 296v–297r with painted panels added during the 20th century, folio 297r shows more severe damage and restoration on the folio, AsP Ms, NS 345 (1235 CE), Kwā Bāhā, Patan, Nepal. Photo by author.
7-6A 9th–10th-century image of bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara with signs of worship, Kwā Bāhā, Patan, Nepal. Photo by author.
7-7Front part of the lineage deity shrine in the center of the courtyard with sculptural and decorative additions from different times, Kwā Bāhā, Patan, Nepal. Photo by author.
DIAGRAMS
2-1Structure of an AsP manuscript (Group A).
3-1Ms A4: AsP, Vigrahapāla III’s 15th year (ca. 1058 CE) and Gopāla IV’s 8th year (ca. 1140 CE), Asia Society, New York.
3-2Ms A5: AsP, Mahīpāla’s 5th year (ca. 1074 CE), Cambridge University Library, Add. 1464.
3-3Ms B1: AsP, NS 135 (1015 CE) during the joint rule of Bhojadeva, Rudradeva, and Lakṣmīkāmadeva, restored in NS 259 (1139 CE) during the reign of Mānadeva, Cambridge University Library, Add. 1643.
4-1Ms D1: Pañcarakṣā sūtra, Nayapāla’s 14th year (ca. 1042 CE), Cambridge University Library, Add. 1688.
5-1Ms D7: AsP, Govindapāla’s 30th year or earlier (ca. 1205 CE; late 12th or early 13th century), British Library, Or. 14282.
5-2Ms D8: AsP, Govindapāla’s 32nd year (ca. 1207 CE), Musée Guimet, Paris, MA 5161, formerly Fournier Collection.
5-3Ms D9: AsP, Govindapāla’s 32nd year (ca. 1207 CE), Asiatic Society, Mumbai, BI-210.
5-4Ms D10: AsP, Lakṣmaṇasena’s 47th year (ca. 1226 CE), Bharat Kala Bhavan, Banaras Hindu University.
INTRODUCTION
Text, Image, and the Book
Therefore then, Ānanda, aspirants to awakening [i.e.,