Yulin Cave 3: Womb Realm Mandala

CHINA, Gansu, Guazhou; Western Xia period

This illustration of the Womb Realm Mandala, located on the right side of the south wall, is based on the Mahavairocana Sutra. The Womb Realm symbolizes the bestowal of compassion upon sentient beings, as if they are in the mother’s womb. The five mandalas within the cave are located in the center of the ceiling, as well as on both sides of the sutra illustrations on the side walls.
The central section of the mandala depicts the Eight Petal Hall and includes nine figures: Vairocana Buddha at the center, Ratnaketu, Samkusumitaraja, Amitabha, and Dundubhinirghosa Buddhas at the four cardinal directions, and Manjusri, Avalokitesvara, Maitreya, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas at the four corners.
The eight-petal lotus symbolizes the transformation of a practitioner through Vajrayana Buddhist practices of the body (forming mudras), speech (reciting mantras), and mind (visualizing the guru), in order to transform the mind and enter the state of enlightenment.