Mahayana Buddhism Represented in Tibetan Art
In Himalayan and Tibetan painting and sculpture the Mahayana path is generally represented by either Shakyamuni Buddha or Amitabha Buddha as the central figure surrounded by the Eight Great Bodhisattvas - the realized students of Mahayana Buddhism. Representing the historical students are the Six Ornaments & Two Excellent Ones of the Southern Continent. This last group also represent the principal scholars of the Madyamaka and Yogachara philosophical traditions.
In addition to the two Buddhas mentioned above the future Buddha Maitreya and Bhaishajyaraja Guru (Medicine Buddha) are also representative of Mahayana Buddhism. The Eight Bodhisattvas can also be expanded to include an additional eight making it the group of Sixteen Great Bodhisattvas. Although the sixteen are not so commonly represented in art. In recent times the Six Ornaments and Two Excellent Ones of the Southern Continent have been expanded with nine additional Indian Mahayana scholars making a group of seventeen - known as the Seventeen Great Scholars of Nalanda Monastery.
Principal Mahayana Figures:
- Shakyamuni Buddha
- Amitabha Buddha
- Maitreya Buddha
- Bhaishajyaraja Guru (Medicine Buddha)
- Eight Great Bodhisatvas
- Six Ornaments & Two Excellent Ones of the Southern Continent