A MANDALA OF AMITAYUS ON SILK WITH SILK MOUNTS Mongolia, 19th ct, Gouache on silk, original silk satin border. In a mountainous, Mongolian landscape the mandala of Buddha Amitayus appears visionary, surrounded by eight emanations in the four main and the four secondary directions. Buddha Amitabha appears in the centre above the mandala, representing himself in the centre of this mandala in the active aspect of his being, in the form of Amitayus, as the giver of "infinite life". The element of Amitabha is fire, and his colour that of the setting sun - of pure light. In Amitayus, infinite light becomes the source of true life, liberated from desire and passions. Through him, the limitations of space and time are removed, for his wisdom is the essence of infinite life (amrita), which he symbolically holds in a golden vessel (kalasha) in his hands folded in a gesture of meditation. The water and the tree, the plant, are symbols of recurrence and duration. In Amitayus, water is to be understood in the sense of aqua vitae and as a symbol of purification and transformation. The nectar of life points to the pure and clear nature of the consciousness liberated by the teachings of the Buddha. The "Buddha of Long Life" is accompanied by the four Lokapalas in the corners of the thangka. In detail, these are the following great kings: Vaishravana, the god of wealth, protects the north; he is the lord of the yakshas; his colour is yellow, he has a lance, a flag and a mongoose (above right) as attributes. To the west dwells Virupaksha, of red colour, he holds a stupa and a snake, for he is the lord of the Nagas (lower right). In the south is Virudhaka; his colour is blue, his attribute is a sword; under him are the demons (lower left). To the east is Dhrtharashtra; his colour is white; he holds a mandolin and is lord over the Gandharvas (top left). South German private collection, assembled till 1995 Wear, water marks