Paro Dzong: Buddhist Cosmology

BHUTAN, Paro

This mural in Paro Dzong depicts the cosmological system described in the Abhidharmakosa. According to the scripture, there are infinite world systems. A thousand world systems form a “small-thousand;” a thousand “small-thousand” world systems form a “medium-thousand;” and a thousand “medium-thousand” world systems form a “large-thousand.” The union of a “small-thousand,” a “medium-thousand,” and a “large-thousand” is said to make up a “three-thousand, many-thousand” world system. Each of these world system contains the six realms: heaven, asura, human, animal, hungry ghost, and hell. Mount Sumeru is thought to be in the center, surrounded by four continents, mountains, and seas.
In the mural, Mount Sumeru is depicted as rising tiers of palaces symbolizing the heavenly realms. It is surrounded by seven smaller mountains represented by thin yellow lines. The dark blue outer circle represents the iron mountain. In the seas between the seven mountains and the iron mountain are the four continents: white Purvavideha, shaped like a half-moon; blue Jambudvipa, shaped as a joined trapezoid and half-circle; red Aparagodaniya, shaped as a full moon; and gold Uttarakuru, which is square in shape. The columns of small Bodhi trees in the center of the upper register represent the Buddhas, who have transcended all realms.
The Bodhisattva in the upper left corner of the mural sits on a lotus throne, holds a long-stemmed lotus, and forms the varada (wish-granting) mudra. In the right corner is a Kagyu school lama, wearing a red headdress and a red monastic robe. His right hand forms a mudra and his left hand holds a sutra. A Dharma wheel in the center of the lower register is flanked by white mythical animals that resemble deer. Mountains, trees, and clouds fill the background.