Vidhyadhari Devi (Akash Yogini)

Name of the Artwork: Vidyadhari Devi (Akash Yogini)

Artist Name: Saziv Shakya and Rusha Bajracharya Shakya

Year of the Creation: 2022

Medium: Oil Colour, Silver and Gold glided jewelries and precious stones

Vidyadhari Devi is also known as Akash Yogini. She is regarded as one of the main yogini among four yoginis in Kathmandu valley. On this painting, Akash Yogini is flying in the air. She is described as flying in the air with her left leg extended upward as if touching the sky. She loops her left hand around her left her leg. She is about to drink blood through a skull bowl of blood, signifying the wisdom that cuts ignorance. Embodying the wisdom of all Buddhas, her face bears her intense passion. Her body is brilliant red and radiant of the clear light of the bliss of enlightenment, She has three eyes, symbolizing her ability to see the past, present and future simultaneously. She is naked except for her six bone ornaments; seen in the deities of the Highest Yoga Tantras and signifies her perfection of the six paramitas.

On this painting, lead artist Saziv has installed silver Kikipa on the top of the crown. The crown also includes precious stones in the middle. Her face looks so beautiful face. She has a choker with tayo and skull chain around her neck. She is having Mekhala Kamarband on her waist. Just below the left leg, there is a dragon appears from the fire. Traditional Newar art has its own peculiar style of depicting fire in the paintings and stylistic form. This also represents dynamism to the overall composition. Fierce deities have an aura of flames around their body and head. In iconographic sources the radiance of gods and goddess are compared with the brightness of a thousand suns. At the both sides the tradition lamps are drawn. And at the bottom of the painting, the (Newari) Ranjana scripts are used for the name of artists and collectors, similarly, paying homage to Vidyadhari with her mantra. This makes the painting more authentic and valuable Newari painting.

Sanam Shakya, M.A. in Applied Buddhism, Lumbini University.

Managing Director, The Spiritual Arts 

Whatsapp No.: +977-9803214009