Rato Macchendranath Temple distemper on cloth nepal

The red Macchendranath standing at the central portal of his temple flanked by a kneeling regal figure and Hyagriva, with Shariputra and Maudgalyayana standing at either end holding patra and khakkhara, Shadakshari and Prajnaparamita in shrines above flanking a multi-tiered edifice with galleries of Transcendental Buddhas, the temple worshipped by nagas surrounding two standing bodhisattvas and bordered by scenes from the life of Shakyamuni Buddha, with Dipankara beneath worshipped by Ganesha and Mahakala and flanked by a Vajracharya performing puja and members of the donor family, further registers of donors below worshipping Prajnaparamita and standing bodhisattvas, the lower register or border now missing.

Hugo E. Kreijger, Kathmandu Valley Painting, The Jucker Collection, Boston, 1999, p. 86, no. 30.

This large and rare dated paubha depicts a shrine of Rato (red) Macchendranath, probably the temple in Tah-bahal, Patan, where the deity resides during the winter months. Macchendranath, also known as Karunamaya, Bunga Dyah or Matsyendranatha, is a local and popular Kathmandu Valley deity with complex iconography. His annual procession traditionally sees the royalty joining the throng. For a full discussion of the deity, his festivals and iconographic background; see Slusser, 1982, pp. 367-79. The iconography is analogous with Avalokiteshvara. His color is red, rather than the white usually associated with Padmapani Lokeshvara, yet his mudras and posture are the same.  A dedicatory inscription on the paubha records that in honor of Shri Shri Shri Aryavalokiteshvara in samvat 970 (1850) on Wednesday the first of the bright half of Bhadra during Madhya Naksatra and Siddhi Yoga when the sun was in Singha and the moon in Sayiva(?), twenty three Manadharas (the Buddhist oil pressing and producing caste of Newars) of Madhi Lachi Tole, lead by Ratna's house, made (performed?) three Gunla Dhalamdas. Together they had this paubha made. This was painted new (possibly done/made again) and finished. The paubha was given to Thathu Bahila (Thathu Vihara) wishing it to be auspicious for all time. Shri Vajracharya Jujumani Guru is named as the officiating priest.