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 work is a painted page from a Tantric manuscript identified as the "Sangrahani Sutra.

About this work

Overview

The work is a painted page from a Tantric manuscript identified as the "Sangrahani Sutra." Executed on a beige‑toned support, the sheet is framed by ornamental borders along its left and right edges. The central field is organized into a regular grid of squares, each containing text rendered in black ink with occasional red highlights.

Subject & Meaning

The inscribed material consists of a religious or spiritual composition, likely a sutra or mantra intended for devotional or meditative practice. The systematic arrangement of the verses suggests a pedagogical function, perhaps serving as a reference aid for recitation or contemplation within a Tantric tradition.

Technique & Style

The artist employed a precise, linear hand to delineate the grid and to execute the script, using black pigment for the main text and red pigment to emphasize particular words or phrases. The decorative side borders feature stylized motifs that complement the manuscript’s solemn tone while providing visual balance.

History & Provenance

The page is part of the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts, which acquired the manuscript at an unspecified date. Its origin lies within the broader corpus of Tantric literature, though the specific cultural or geographic provenance of the piece has not been detailed in the available records.

Context

Manuscript pages of this type were commonly produced for the transmission of esoteric teachings in South Asian Buddhist and Hindu traditions. The use of a grid format reflects a didactic approach, facilitating the orderly study of complex doctrinal material.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known