Phajoding Monastery: Embroidery of Usnisavijaya

BHUTAN, Thimphu

Usnisavijaya is shown with three heads and eight arms. Each head has three eyes and wears a crown. The main face is white and expresses compassion, while the other faces are orange evoking joy and blue conveying wrath. He sits in lotus position on a lotus throne, and his body is decorated with necklaces. Of the eight arms, the two main hands are positioned in front of the chest: the right holds a double vajra and the left holds a vajra lasso. The two upper right hands hold a figurine of a seated Amitabha Buddha and an arrow, while the lower right hand is performing the varada (wish-granting) mudra. The two upper left hands hold a vase and bow, while the hand below is performing the abhaya (fearlessness) mudra.
Avalokitesvara stands in attendance to the right of Usnisavijaya and performs the vitarka (teaching) mudra with the right hand and holds a lotus in the left. The blue figure standing in attendance to the left is Vajrapani, with the right hand lowered and the left hand holding a whisk. Four wrathful looking Dharma protectors are depicted above and below the two attendants.
The figure of White Tara in the bottom register holds a lotus and has a rainbow mandorla. Amitabha Buddha sits in the center of the upper register and performs the dhyana (meditation) mudra while holding the vase of longevity. He is flanked by heavenly beings holding ritual vessels.