Scultures of Buddhist Goddesses (2): Prajnaparamita

Prajnaparamita is Buddhisi goddess of learning, an embodiment of Mahayana scripture of the same name. In India worship of Prajnaparamita starts from 4^th5^th century A.D. She represents teaching of Buddha. So, she is manifestation of perfect knowledge. She is often depicted in seated pose with one face and two or four arms (Tiwari 1997: 2281). Present excavations yield five bronze images of goddess Prajnaparamita. They portrayed her seated in padmasana mudra with two arms. Her right hand is in varada mudra and sometimes a tilaka mark is shown in it while left hand holds a book either resting on left knee or slightly raised up and placed before the chest. Generally Prajnaparamitas belonging to family of dhyani Buddha Aksobhya are said to have been represented in padmasana mudra with two arms. She holds lotus in right and the book in the left hand respectively (Tiwari 1997: 230f). Most important and well known identity of prajna enshrined in book is clearly visible in left hands of all deities of this group.