Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva & Buddhist Deity) - Khasarpani (Sky Flier)

སྤྱན་རས་གཟིགས། 观音菩萨
(item no. 89739)
Origin Location India
Date Range 1100 - 1199
Lineages Buddhist
Material Metal
Collection Private
Notes about the Central Figure

Alternate Names: Lokeshvara Avalokita Lokanata Lokanatha Mahakarunika

Classification: Deity

Appearance: Peaceful

Gender: Male

Interpretation / Description

Khasarpana Five Deity, Avalokiteshvara.

"...[20] Khasarpani. Avalokiteshvara Khasarpani, with a body white in colour, one face and two hands, the right in supreme generosity [and] the left holding a lotus. With the hair adorned as a crown, the same ornaments and garments. Seated in the half [vajra] posture. At the right side is Green Tara, [with] the right in supreme generosity and the left holding an utpala [and] Yellow Manidharin holding a Dharma kapala with palms joined. At the left are Yellow Bhrikuti, [with] the right in supreme generosity and the left holding a three pointed stick [and] Red Hayagriva, in a manner of bowing with the right [hand], and the left holding a stick under the beard." (By Ngorchen Konchog Lhundrub (1497-1557). Based on the Bari Gyatsa of Bari Lotsawa Rinchen Drag, 1040-1112 [P3731]).

Iconographic Figures: - Center: Khasarpana Lokeshvara - Right: Tara (green, two arms) - Right: Manidharin (yellow, two arms) - Left: Bhrikuti (yellow, with four arms) - Left: Hayagriva (red, slightly wrathful)

The most important identifying characteristic for recognizing the Khasarpana Lokeshvara in the Five Deity configuration is the presence of the four armed Bhrikuti standing at the left side. A secondary indicator is the standing Tara on the right side.

(This object was previously mis-identified as Amoghapasha Lokeshvara).

Jeff Watt [updated 4-2017]

Secondary Images
Related Items
Thematic Sets
Buddhist Deity: Avalokiteshvara, Khasarpana (Khasarpani)
Buddhist Deity: Avalokiteshvara, Khasarpani (Bari, Five Deity)
Buddhist Deity: Avalokiteshvara, Khasarpana (Masterworks)
Sculpture: Figurative, Three Parts
Sculpture: Single/Multiple Figure Configuration
Buddhist Deity: Avalokiteshvara Art History
Buddhist Deity: Lokeshvara (Related Deities)
Buddhist Deity: Lokeshvara, Khasarpani (Meaning of the Term)