Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva & Buddhist Deity) - Simhanada (Lion's Roar)

སྤྱན་རས་གཟིགས། 观音菩萨
(item no. 40321)
Origin Location Mongolia
Date Range 1800 - 1899
Lineages Buddhist
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Private
Notes about the Central Figure

Alternate Names: Lokeshvara Avalokita Lokanata Lokanatha Mahakarunika

Classification: Deity

Appearance: Peaceful

Gender: Male

Interpretation / Description

Simhanada, Avalokiteshvara (Tibetan: seng ge dra, chen re zi. English: the Lion's Roar, All Seeing Lord).

In front of an ornate palace Simhanada is seated on a lotus on the back of a lion with a green mane in turn seated upon a larger lotus; "... with a body white in colour, one face, two hands, three peaceful eyes, with the face slightly smiling. The right hand is extended above the knee in the mudra of giving refuge. The palm of the left hand is supported on the moon seat, holding the stem of a red lotus, the petals blossoming next to the ear. Above is the cleansing blue sword of wisdom. The left breast is covered with the skin of a krishnasara deer; encircled with a white Brahmin string necklace; with a lower garment of red silk. The body is slightly thin and dexterous. At the left above a red lotus with eight petals is a skullcup filled with various fragrant flowers; at the right, a trident with a green shaft entwined with a white snake. The left [hand] is in the gesture of holding a fragrant lotus." (Written by Yarlungpa Sengge Gyaltsen, 13th century).

Lineage: Vajradhara, Simhanada, Chandragomin, Shridhara, Naropa, the Phamting Brothers, Asthulya Vajra, Manju Ling Tugje Chenpo, Mal Lotsawa, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092-1158), etc.

Jeff Watt 6-1998

Related Items
Thematic Sets
Buddhist Deity: Avalokiteshvara, Simhanada
Iconography Set: Lokeshvara (Zurich)
Subject: Thirteen Golden Dharmas (Zurich)