Boddhisattva+White+Avalokiteshvara+(Amoghapasha+Lokeshvara)

=Boddhisattva White Avalokiteshvara **(**Amoghapasha Lokeshvara**) 14th Century Nepal Statue**= [|Boddhisattva White Avalokiteshvara (Amoghapasha Lokeshvara)]

Artwork Identification
> Early Malla period
 * **Title**: Boddhisattva White Avalokiteshvara **(**Amoghapasha Lokeshvara**)**
 * **Artist(s):** Unknown
 * **Date:** 14th century
 * **Period:**Malla dynasty
 * **Country of Origin:** Nepal
 * **Cultural/Ethnic Affiliation:** Nepal
 * **Medium:** Polychromed wood
 * **Dimensions:** H: 162.5 W: 96.0 D: 37.0 cm
 * **Museum/Collection:**
 * **Accession Number:** Unknown
 * **Current Location and Manner of Display:** The Smithsonian's Museum of Asian Art
 * **Provenance: (the history of ownership if known):**Unknown

**﻿Introduction** Avalokiteshvara, sanksrit for the lord who sees or possibly the lord who is seen, is perhaps the most popular of the Buddhist Bodhisattvas. This particular image is from Nepal and represents a form of Avalokiteshvara known as Amoghapasha (unerring net) Lokeshvara (lord of worlds). .

=**Descriptive Anaylsis**= This statue was carved of wood, with the additional arms appearing to be attached above the elbow joint, perhaps they fell off or the initial design included them. The Bodhisattva is portrayed with jewelry and other regalia. Avalokiteshvara wears a large crown and it appears the usual image of the Buddha upon the center of the crown has eroded and broke off. Avalokiteshvara is shown in a asymmetrical position with different mudras being performed (describe these). The lithe figure of Avalokiteshvara perhaps even seems androgynous, as it portrays a tapered waist.

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara Seated with Hand in Gesture of Reassurance (Abhayamudra), 15th/16th century Gilt bronze with gemstones 17.5 x 10.1 x 7.4 cm (6 7/8 x 4 x 3 in.) (with pin.) Kate S. Buckingham Fund, 1974.237 From Chicago Institute of Art http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/47169?search_id=1

**Reference**
"Bodhisattva White Avalokiteshvara **(**Amoghapasha Lokeshvara**)**." Freer/Sackler Smithsonian's Museum of Asian Art. http://www.asia.si.edu/collections/zoomObject.cfm?ObjectId=28210
 * Online**

"Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara Seated with Hand in Gesture of Reassurance (Abhayamudra) ." The Art Institute of Chicago. http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/47169?search_id=1


 * Text**

Louis Frédéric, Buddhism (Paris: Flammarion, 1995), pp. 150-177.

. C.N. Tay, "Kuan-Yin: The Cult of Half Asia." History of Religions 16.2 (1976): 147-77.