Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva & Buddhist Deity)

སྤྱན་རས་གཟིགས། 观音菩萨
(item no. 57216)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1600 - 1699
Lineages Buddhist
Size 21.50cm (8.46in) high
Material Metal
Collection Private
Notes about the Central Figure

Alternate Names: Lokeshvara Avalokita Lokanata Lokanatha Mahakarunika

Classification: Deity

Interpretation / Description

Avalokiteshvara Riding a Cow: In the right hand he holds a garland of beads across the knee. In the left hand he holds a flower blossom. In a relaxed posture Avalokita sits on the back of a cow - also depicted as if resting atop a grassy knoll. This sculpture was created by the 10th Karmapa, Choying Dorje based on a night time dream. There is no Indian or Tibetan textual model for this form of Avalokiteshvara. It is simply the creation of a work based on the inspiration of a dream.

Jeff Watt 1-2012

Secondary Images
Related Items
Thematic Sets
Tibet: Tsuglakang Temple (Deities)
Buddhist Deity: Avalokiteshvara (Seated, Holding a Lotus)
Tibet: Tsuglakang Temple, Lhasa (Visual Dharma)
Artist: Choying Dorje & Atelier (Sculpture)