Dunkar Cave 2: Manjusri Mandala

CHINA, Tibet, Ngari; Guge Kingdom

This mandala, located in the center of the ceiling of Cave 2, is composed of a series of concentric rings colored red, blue, white, and black. The first ring contains 52 figures; among them are female deities in different poses, figures with human bodies and animal heads, and pairs of figures resembling mahasiddhas. Seven nagas rise above the head of one mahasiddha; this is likely a depiction of Nagarjuna. The second ring contains 32 figures including Dharma protectors and female deities. There are 44 small Bodhisattva images in the third ring. The fourth ring has 24 figures, including eight multi-armed Dharma protectors.
A Bodhisattva with four heads and eight arms encompassed by a lotus flower is located in the center of the mandala. The white Bodhisattva is adorned with various ornaments and holds objects including a sword and a sutra, indicating that the figure is likely Manjusri Bodhisattva. Eight lotus petals surround the Bodhisattva, and each petal contains a deity with a nimbus and a mandorla.