Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, can be identified by the small seated image of the Buddha Amitabha, his spiritual progenitor, in his crown. He stands in a relaxed posture, his right hand in the gesture of bestowing blessings. The long cord that runs from his left shoulder and across his right thigh represents a sacred thread and symbolizes Avalokiteshvara’s high social and religious status. By about the 6th century C.E., he had become the most popular bodhisattva in Buddhism.
Details
- Title : Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (8th-9th century)
- Year : 8th-9th century
- Classification : Sculpture
- Medium : Gilt - Copper Alloy
- Dimension : H. 13 1/4 x W. 5 x D. 4 3/4 in. (H. 33.7 cm)
- Country/ Geo-location : Nepal
- Collection : Asia Society
- Credit Line : Asia Society, New York: Estate of Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller, 1992.3