Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā

This is a Mahāyānasūtra text that contains 32 chapters, discussing the Buddhist concept of wisdom (Prajñā), the advantages of studying the text, and the possible obstacles in acquiring knowledge. It also describes the difficulties of finding a good teacher and a trained disciple (P.L. Vaidya, 1960. p. XX). This text holds immense significance in shaping the development of both the Mādhyamaka and Yogācāra schools of thought. Folio 156 contains one illustration of a deity. "30 leaves from the 1st chapter to the head part of the 3rd chapter, are missing". "Two leaves with fol.no.223" (Matsunami, 1965. p. 23). At the colophon, the manuscript mentions the name of a devotee of a Bauddhavihāra in present-day Kathmandu, who, along with his family, donated to the vihāra for a good life. His name was Hemākara, his wife was Mohanalakṣmī, their first son was Rāma and his wife was Vidyādharī, their first son was Bhājudhana and his wife was Kṛṣṇamati, their second son was Ṭhākurasiṃha and his wife was Pūrṇalakṣmī, their third son was Cidhidhana and his wife was Sarvalakṣmī, and their fourth son was Bhinakhvāla(?) and his wife was Puṇyalakṣmī. Another donation was made by Mohanalakṣmī’s second son, Bhavānipati, along with his family: Bhavānipati and his wife Bharathakūnī, and their son Rājendrapati and his wife Dayālakṣmī.