Alchi Monastery Three Story Hall: Manjusri Bodhisattva

INDIA, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh

This mural is painted on the lower half of the left side of the north wall niche on the first story of the Three Story Hall. In the center of the upper register, Four-armed Manjusri Bodhisattva is depicted within an ornate arch, surrounded by deities and human figures. Two of the hands form mudras, while the other two hands hold a sword and a long-stemmed lotus. The Bodhisattva sits in full lotus position on a lotus throne supported by two lions. Monks joining their palms in reverence stand or kneel beside the arch surrounding Manjusri. On the right beside the top of the arch, there are images of Indian deities including Shiva and Brahma. Naga Kings and female figures are painted on the left.
On the left side of the upper register, there are four robed monks walking towards Manjusri. The first monk holds a tray and the rest carry flowers. Below the monks, a female figure passes a tray of offerings to another female figure on a staircase. On the right side of the upper register, a female figure holding lotus buds and beads is shown walking towards a building. Behind her, there is a seated man wearing a red robe and a white cape. In the section below, a man is shown climbing stairs in a hall while holding a conch shell and beads. These scenes appear to relate to the history of the Three Story Hall’s construction.
In the lower left section of the mural, there is an inscription in Tibetan. The original writing has been covered over, and it is not known whether the current content is the same as the original text. The inscription contains a prayer to Manjusri, an account of the symbolic meanings of the central figures in the north, east, and west wall niches in the Three Story Hall, a tribute to the founder of the hall, Tsultrim O, and a record of the hall’s history. Five monks and two laymen sitting side by side are shown on the lower right. Below the monks, there are four women, three small children, and a female attendant.