The Shakyas were traditional artisans of gold and silver. In the picture, women in their traditional dress wait in a goldsmith’s workshop. In the next room, an old man who may be the goldsmith’s father recites verses from the Pragyaparamita, a Buddhist text, and in the background a young woman returns from the temple. The craftsman’s wife has entered the room with a hukka that is prepared for smoking. An alcove houses a picture of Bhimsen, the god of commerce, and in another alcove sits an oil lamp. A framed picture of the Buddha hangs on the wall. Sunlight filtering in through the beautifully carved wooden window brightens the whole room.
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