The Eight Great Miracles in the life of the Buddha Shakyamuni are illustrated on these covers, although the episodes are not those commonly depicted. The artist arranged the scenes in non-chronological order, except for the scene of the Buddha’s death, which is at the end of the second cover. On the top cover, the Miracle at Sankisa (or Samkisya) is followed by the birth of the Buddha, his first seven steps, the victory over Mara, and the offering of honey to the Buddha in the Parileyyaka Forest. On the bottom cover, the Buddha tames the elephant Nalagiri, performs miracles at Shravasti, is sheltered by the serpent Muchalinda, and attains Final Enlightenment (mahaparinirvana). Although the colophon to the non-illustrated manuscript once associated with these covers is dated 174 (1054 CE), stylistic analysis indicates they were most likely painted during the 12th century when many earlier manuscripts in the Kathmandu Valley were provided with new covers. The Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom in 8,000 Verses) is one of the most basic texts of Mahayana Buddhist philosophy. It was often commissioned and copied by pious Buddhists in India and Nepal.

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