Alchi Monastery Three Story Hall: Western Pure Land

INDIA, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh

This 73 cm high by 124 cm wide mural, found on the first story of the Three Story Hall, portrays Amitabha Buddha seated within a red niche surrounded by five rows of figures. Amitabha Buddha appears in red, with a nimbus and an aureole. The Buddha wears earrings, ornaments, and a red monastic robe that covers both shoulders and is decorated with images of archers on elephants. Five blue peacocks support the lotus throne. The two columns beside the throne are decorated with images of auspicious creatures. Each of the columns is topped with a makara ridden by a heavenly musician. The tails of the makaras extend upwards, forming an arch. Four-armed deities riding white auspicious creatures are depicted at the top of the image outside the red niche. Beside the deities, there is a row of seated Amitabha Buddhas with white nimbuses, red mandorlas, and blue monastic robes.
The rows of figures beside the central image represent the realms of existence. In the second row from the top, Sarvanivarana Viskambhin Bodhisattva, Shiva, Wind Deity, Sakra, and Water Deity are painted on the left. Maitreya Bodhisattva, a male figure bowing in reverence, and Bodhisattvas are depicted on the right. In the third row from the top, Manjusri Bodhisattva, Vishnu, Brahma, Ganesa, Skanda, and eleven small monks are shown on the left. Padmapani Bodhisattva, human figures, Bodhisattvas, and the naga king with his daughters are on the right. Seated monks with red nimbuses occupy the bottom row.