Quick Overview
Avalokiteshvara (meaning “the lord who gazes down”), a compassionate being who is believed to possess the ability to look in all directions to see who is suffering and to offer salvation. One of the most fascinating figures in Asian Buddhist imagery, Avalokiteshvara is represented in a multitude of forms, from a simple princely bodhisattva holding a lotus, to a complex, multi-armed deity, and even a mother holding a child.
According to certain Buddhist texts, the deity took a vow to postpone his own enlightenment until all blades of grass and grains of sand have become enlightened; only then will he transcend this material realm to become a Buddha. In theLotus Sutra, a text revered by many practitioners throughout East Asia, the deity is the subject of a whole chapter, which describes him as possessing many different powers and the ability to assume many forms in order to share the Buddha’s teachings and relieve the suffering of followers. This colorful description accounts for his diverse representations in Buddhist imagery. In many paintings and sculptures, Avalokiteshvara is shown in the typical garb of a bodhisattva, a prince-like figure wearing robes, a crown, and jewelry (to symbolize his presence in our material realm). Avalokiteshvara can be distinguished from other bodhisattvas by the lotus he holds in one hand, symbolizing the potential in us all to attain enlightenment (just as a pure lotus can grow in the muddiest water). He also typically wears a small image of Amitabha Buddha (or Amitayus), in his crown, representing his spiritual association with this particular Buddha.
*12 inches.
*Half Gold Plated in Copper.
