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 Sangrahani Sutra is a painted tantric manuscript originating in the Indian subcontinent.

About this work

Overview

The Sangrahani Sutra is a painted tantric manuscript originating in the Indian subcontinent. Executed on paper with mineral pigments, the work combines text and illustration to convey esoteric teachings associated with the Buddhist Vajrayana tradition. Its compact format and richly colored figures reflect the devotional purpose of the manuscript as a visual aid for ritual practice.

Subject & Meaning

The images depict a sequence of deities, mandalas, and ritual implements central to the Sangrahani Sutra’s liturgical instructions.

The images depict a sequence of deities, mandalas, and ritual implements central to the Sangrahani Sutra’s liturgical instructions. Each figure is rendered with symbolic attributes that correspond to specific tantric concepts, such as transformation, protection, and the embodiment of enlightened qualities. The visual program serves to guide practitioners through meditative visualization and the internalization of doctrinal principles.

Technique & Style

Artists employed fine brushwork and a limited palette of ochre, vermilion, lapis lazuli, and charcoal to delineate intricate iconography. The style merges classical Indian manuscript conventions—linear outlines, flat color fields, and ornamental borders—with regional decorative motifs. Pigments were ground from natural minerals and applied in multiple layers to achieve depth and luminosity.

History & Provenance

The manuscript dates to the late medieval period, likely between the 14th and 16th centuries, based on stylistic analysis and carbon dating of the paper. It was part of a private monastic collection before entering the holdings of a European museum in the early 20th century, where it remains catalogued as a representative example of tantric visual literature.