This sculpture is that of a handsome, standing male figure. He can be
identified as Avalokiteshvara by the full-blooming lotus he holds in his
left hand and the antelope skin draping him, with the head of the antelope
visible on his left shoulder. The lotus is held lightly in his left hand.
His right hand is in the fear-not gesture (abhaya
mudra), in which the hand
is held up in front of the chest, palm out.
Avalokiteshvara is the archangelic Bodhisattva of Great Compassion. His vast
vows to save all beings are said by the texts to be inconceivable. With his
special mantra OM MANI PADME HUM ("Hail the jewel in the lotus!"), he
travels to all realms of the universe in his tireless quest to deliver
beings from suffering.
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