Akashagarbha, Bodhisattva (Tibetan: nam kai nying po. English: Nucleus of Space): belonging to the group of Eight Great Bodhisattvas.

The identification is based on the blue body colour and the attendant standing to the left side and respectfully holding the blade of a sword. The blue characteristic and the sword attribute are typical for the bodhisattva Akashagarbha. (See an image of Akashagarbha at the top center of HAR #81422 and HAR #916).

An inscription found on a virtually identical composition from the Hahn Collection names the central subject as the bodhisattva Nivaranavishkambhin (Tibetan Wylie: sgrib pa rnam sel). See Art of Thangka, From the Kwang-Ho Collection. Volume 2. Plate 71, Sarvanivaranaviskambhin.

Jeff Watt 3-2004