Who painted Tantric Manuscript "Sangrahani Sutra"?

Tantric Manuscript "Sangrahani Sutra" was painted by Unknown.

Where can I see Tantric Manuscript "Sangrahani Sutra"?

Tantric Manuscript "Sangrahani Sutra" is held by Detroit Institute of Arts.

Artwork

Tantric Manuscript "Sangrahani Sutra"

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 single folio from a tantric manuscript titled “Sangrahani Sutra.

About this work

Overview

The object is a single folio from a tantric manuscript titled “Sangrahani Sutra.” The page is composed of densely arranged text in an unidentified script, with lines that curve and intertwine across the surface. Its material has yellowed with age, and the margins are uneven, indicating extensive handling over time.

Subject & Meaning

The manuscript belongs to the tantric tradition, a body of esoteric literature that conveys ritual instructions, symbolic doctrine, and meditative practices.

The manuscript belongs to the tantric tradition, a body of esoteric literature that conveys ritual instructions, symbolic doctrine, and meditative practices. While the precise content cannot be read without deciphering the script, the title suggests a collection of sutras—short, authoritative statements—related to the Sangrahani, a term associated with gathering or compilation within tantric contexts.

Technique & Style

The page exhibits intricate calligraphy, with each character embellished by ornamental flourishes that merge text and decoration. The script is tightly packed, creating a visual rhythm of twisting lines. The parchment’s warm, yellowed tone and subtle surface texture reveal the use of natural fibers and historic preparation methods, while the ragged edges reflect manual cutting and repeated use.

History & Provenance

The folio’s aged appearance and worn margins point to a long chain of ownership and handling, typical of religious texts that circulated among monastic or practitioner communities. Although the manuscript’s origin and date are not specified, its material condition aligns with other South Asian tantric works produced between the early medieval and pre‑modern periods.