佛像网

尺寸：136.5 x 61 x 39.4 cm
年代：16世纪
质地：木雕彩绘(Polychromed wood)
风格：尼泊尔
来源：纽约布鲁克林博物馆
参阅：外部链接
鉴赏：
一尊四臂女神像，其左上手持经书（pustaka），右上臂结施无畏印（abhaya mudra，意为“无畏”的手印），右下臂施变体与愿印（varada mudra，满愿手印）。她左下臂可能结说法印（vitarka mudra），但从其下垂的姿态来看，更可能是原本握有某物——如一捆谷穗的茎秆——现已缺失。女神身着彩色条纹下裙，头戴高髻冠冕。其身色原为白色或黄色，现已褪色。掌心绘成红色。此像作圆雕处理。台座刻有八个小像，各自立于龛内。早期因持小经书而将其认定为智慧女神萨拉斯瓦蒂（Sarasvati，印度教辩才天女），但更有可能此像实为财续佛母（Vasudhara）——一位佛教的财富与丰饶女神。财续佛母在尼泊尔备受崇奉，通常表现为金色身相，佩戴繁复珍宝。她常被描绘为手持经书，尽管这并非其主要标识。更为常见的是，她结与愿印，并握有一捆谷穗（可能正是其左下臂现已缺失之物）。

保存状况：像背及莲座左侧有裂纹。左上臂以木销加固；右上臂稍显松动。配现代木质底座（独立）。彩绘表面有多处陈旧剥落，尤以头部前侧下部及右下臂前侧为甚。木质有多处细小缺损，右上臂上方有一大块缺失。两上臂均为另接件，接缝开裂。随附的现代木质底座为棕色涂漆，未做配重。（像底部的方榫与独立底座相契合。）

A four-armed goddess holds a book (pustaka) in her upper left hand. Her right upper hand is in abhaya mudra (a gesture meaning “do not fear”) while her lower right hand is in a variation on the varada mudra (wish-granting gesture). Her lower left hand may be in vitarka mudra (a teaching gesture), although in its pendant position it is more likely that it held something – like the stem of a sheaf of corn – that is now gone. The Goddess wears a colorfully striped lower garment and a crown with a high coiffure. The original color of the body, now faded, was white or yellow. The palms of her hands are painted red. The figure is executed in the round. Eight small figures standing in niches are carved into the base. Originally identified as Sarasvati, the Hindu goddess of wisdom, because of the small book she carries, it is more likely that this figure represents Vasudhara, a Buddhist goddess of wealth and abundance. Much worshipped in Nepal, Vasudhara is usually represented with golden skin and abundant jewelry. She is often depicted holding a book, although it is not her primary attribute. Most often she makes the wish-granting gesture (varada mudra) and holds a sheaf of corn (possibly now missing from her lower left hand). Condition: Figure cracked in the back and left side of lotus base. Upper left arm reinforced by wooden prongs; upper right arm somewhat loose. Separate modern wood base. Polychrome surface has many scattered old losses, particularly on the lower part of head at the front, and on front of lower right arm. Scattered small losses to wood with large piece out at top of upper right arm. Both upper arms are pieces and joints open. Also received separate modern wood base, painted brown, unweighted. (Cube-shaped peg under base of figure fits separate base).