Artwork

Tantric Manuscript "Sangrahani Sutra"

Tantric Manuscript "Sangrahani Sutra", by Unknown, unspecified
Tantric Manuscript "Sangrahani Sutra", by Unknown, unspecified

Tantric Manuscript "Sangrahani Sutra" is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It is held in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts. The object is a painted page from the Tantric text known as the Sangrahani Sutra.

About this work

Overview

The object is a painted page from the Tantric text known as the Sangrahani Sutra. Executed on paper, the sheet combines dense script with ornamental borders and miniature illustrations set within framed compartments. The script is a specialized sacred hand, typical of ritual manuscripts, while the surrounding motifs employ vivid pigments to frame the textual content.

Subject & Meaning

The central focus of the page is the religious discourse of the Sangrahani Sutra, a work associated with esoteric Buddhist practice. The marginal designs, though primarily decorative, echo symbolic motifs common in tantric iconography, suggesting an intention to reinforce the spiritual themes of the text through visual reinforcement.

Technique & Style

The manuscript employs a traditional Indian miniature painting technique, using mineral and vegetable pigments applied with fine brushes. The script is rendered in a formal, angular hand, characteristic of sacred scribal traditions. Border patterns consist of interlaced geometric and floral elements, executed in bright reds, blues, and golds, creating a contrast with the dark ink of the text.

History & Provenance

The painted folio is part of the Detroit Institute of Arts’ collection of South Asian religious manuscripts. While the precise date of production is not specified, its stylistic attributes align with late medieval tantric manuscript production in the Indian subcontinent. The DIA acquired the piece as part of its broader effort to represent the visual culture of Buddhist tantra.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known