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Nakata, Kazuaki See all items with this value

2026

Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies

Shakya, Miroj

Long, Darui

Gabriel, Victor

This dissertation examines Newar Buddhist belief, devotion, and ritual practice related to Aṣṭa Vītarāga through an analysis of the Svayaṃbhū Purāṇa and Vajrasattva Kāya, iconographical study of the Eight Bodhisattvas in Patan and at the Svayaṃbhū Mahācaitya, discussion of variations in eight-bodhisattva traditions, and an interview with an active Bajrācārya who participates in Aṣṭa Vītarāga rituals in Kathmandu.

In Newar Buddhism, Aṣṭa Vītarāga refers to an interconnected tradition involving eight bodhisattva figures, associated sacred sites, ritual narratives, and visual representations in the Kathmandu Valley. Each Vītarāga site is associated with a particular bodhisattva within the Newar Buddhist interpretation of Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna traditions. The dissertation mainly discusses the appearance of the eight Bodhisattvas in Newar Buddhism based on the contents of the Svayaṃbhū Purāṇa with supplemental information from the Vajrasattva Kāya. Through detailed art-historical analysis of the Eight Bodhisattvas’ paintings as part of Newar-Tibetan visual culture, this dissertation identifies key features of Newar-Tibetan art and contributes to a deeper understanding of its historical development.

South Asian studies See all items with this value

Archaeology See all items with this value

Philosophy of Religion See all items with this value

Asta Vaitaraga Katha See all items with this value

Asta Vitaraga See all items with this value

Eight Bodhisattva See all items with this value

Newar Buddhism See all items with this value

Svayambhu Prana See all items with this value

Vajrasattva Kaya See all items with this value

University of the West

9798186366188