Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva & Buddhist Deity) - Rakta Lokeshvara (Red Lord of the World)

སྤྱན་རས་གཟིགས། 观音菩萨
(item no. 77039)
Origin Location Nepal
Date Range 1300 - 1399
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Publication: Wisdom Publications, Calender
Notes about the Central Figure

Alternate Names: Lokeshvara Avalokita Lokanata Lokanatha Mahakarunika

Classification: Deity

Appearance: Peaceful

Gender: Male

Interpretation / Description

Avalokiteshvara, Red.

Tibetan: chen re zi

Rakta Lokeshvara is peaceful in appearance with one face and six arms. The first pair of hands perform the teaching gesture at the heart, the right two are in the gesture of generosity and holding a a pearl mala. The left two hold the stem of a white lotus flower and a book. Seated in a relaxed posture on a lion supported throne, he is surrounded by an elaborate torana throne-back. Standing at the proper right and left sides are two peaceful attendant figures, male, each with one face and two arms.

At the top left is Chaturbhuja Avalokiteshvara, Ratnasambhava, Akshobhya and Vairochana Buddhas. Below that is Ushnishavijaya and a heavenly deva/i. On the top right side are Amitabha, Amoghasiddhi and Medicine Buddhas. At the end of the row in the right corner is Prajnaparamita. Below that is Vasudhara with six arms and a heavenly deva/i. Descending down the proper right and left sides are the Eight Great Gods of the Indian cultural pantheon.

Descending on the proper right side are:
- Rakshasa on a zombie, south-west,
- Yama on a buffalo, south,
- Agni on a goat, south-east,
- Shakra on an elephant, east,

Descending on the proper left side are:
- Varuna on a makara, west,
- Vayu on a deer, north-west.
- Yaksha on a horse, north,
- Ishana on a bull, north-east,

Jeff Watt 8-2023

Wisdom Calendar 1988 - December (full catalog list)

Related Items
Publications
Publication: Wisdom Publications: Calendar Collection

Thematic Sets
Buddhist Deity: Avalokiteshvara, Red (Rakta Lokeshvara)
Buddhist Deity: Lokeshvara (Unusual Iconography)
Buddhist Deity: Avalokiteshvara Masterworks (Painting)
Buddhist Deity: Avalokiteshvara Main Page
Nepal: Buddhism