No. 2371. CATALOGUE OF BUDDHIST ART— CASANOWICZ 319 



his left knee, with three faces of hideous expression, and on his head 

 a crown of flames (painted red). Around his waist is a girdle of 

 leaves, and a large rosary hangs around his neck. He has six arms. 

 In his upper right hand he holds a snare to catch the demons, and in 

 the lower an arrow; in his upper left hand is a three-leaved flower 

 (?) and in his lower left a bow. The middle right hand which he 

 holds before him has in it the vajra (Tibetan dorje), the thunderbolt of 

 Tndra, the Hindu god of the atmosphere; the middle left hand is 

 empty, the thumb touching the second and third fingers, the index 

 and little finger held extended. He is horse-necked and frightens 

 the demons by his neighing. For this reason the Mongolians con- 

 sider him protector of horses. Height, 8 inches. Lhasa, Tibet. 

 (Cat. No. 130398, U.S.N.M.) 



159. God of riches (Jambala or Kubera, Tibetan, GunJcar Yizin 

 Norbu). — Bronze, gilt and polished. The god of riches is one of the 

 Dragsheds (for which see No. 158). He also appears as one of the 

 four world guardians (LoJcapalas) , who dwell around Mount Meru, 

 the reputed center of the Buddhist world. He is three-faced, with a 

 crown of flames (painted red), standing on two elephants. He has 

 six arms adorned with anklets and bracelets. The middle hands are 

 held before him with offerings in them. The upper right hand holds 

 a vajra (dorje, the thunderbolt of Indra), the upper left a three- 

 forked club, perhaps intended to represent the trisula, or trident, 

 the scepter of the Hindu god Siva. The lower right a small hand 

 drum (damaru), and the lower left a snare. Height, 4h inches. 

 Lhasa, Tibet. (Cat. No. 130399, U.S.N.M.) 



160. Gandharva. — Wood, red lacquered and gilt. Human kneeling 

 figure in the attitude of adoration, set on wings. The Gandharvas 

 belong to the Devas, secondary deities or attendants. In the Hindu 

 system, whence they were introduced into Buddhism, they are the 

 musicians of Indra, who with their master serve and worship Buddha. 

 They are sometimes represented with a human bust on the body of a 

 bird, playing a musical instrument. Height, 6 inches. Laos, 

 Further India. (Cat. No. 217607, U.S.N.M.) 



161. Maha Upakut. — Wooden figure, lacquered and gilt. Repre- 

 sented with the hands pressed on the prominent abdomen, wearing a 

 flat red cap in form of an open lotus and red garment thrown on the 

 left shoulder. The Laos describe the Maha Upakut as a son of 

 Buddha, who was born in the water of the river god. His skin is 

 rough in imitation of a fish's scales. They believe that touching his 

 figure after it has been dedicated to a temple will cure pains of the 

 stomach. Height, 10 inches. Laos, Further India. (Plate 65, 

 Cat. No. 217596 U.S.N.M.) 



162-166. Maha Upakut. — Wood, lacquered and gilt. Similar to 

 the preceding No. 161. Height, 2£-6£ inches. Laos, Further 

 India. (Cat. Nos. 217597-217601, U.S.N.M.) 



