Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara in the Form of Khasarpana Lokeshvara

Place CreatedIndia, Asia

CultureIndia, Bengal

PeriodPala Dynasty

Date11th-12th Century

MediumBlack chlorite

Credit LineEster R. Portnow Collection of Asian Art, a gift of the Nathan Rubin-Ida Ladd Family Foundation

Dimensions10 1/2 x 6 3/4 x 3 in. (26.7 x 17.1 x 7.6 cm)

Object number2001.001.008

Label TextThe Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara manifests here as Khasarpana Lokeshvara, the “Sky-Gliding Lord of the World”, a popular meditational deity during this period. He smiles gently as he looks down (avalokita) with compassion and extends his right hand in a boon-bestowing gesture. His left hand holds the stem of a lotus symbolizing his purity and connection to the world.

Four deities encircle Khasarpana Lokeshvara. On the lower left the goddess Bhrikuti kneels, worshipfully clasping her hands, above her sits the youth Sudhana, a book tucked under his left arm. Opposite Sudhana is Hayagriva, a fierce protector with flaming hair. On the lower right, the goddess Tara makes a lotus bloom from her hand.

Above the Bodhisattva are five Buddhas from the five Buddha families. Each represents the purification of a negative mental state and makes a particular hand gesture (mudra). Left to right they are:

Vairochana – purification of delusion, teaching mudra
Ratnasambhava – purification of pride, boon-bestowing mudra
Amitabha – purification of desire, meditation mudra
Akshobhya – purification of anger, earth-touching mudra
Amoghasiddhi – purification of jealousy, have-no-fear mudra

The Buddha Amitabha also appears in the Bodhisattva’s crown to show that he and Avalokiteshvara are part of the same Buddha family.
Exhibition HistoryMCCM Permanent Collection Reinstallation, September 2004 - April 4, 2021
MCCM Permanent Collection Reinstallation, August 28, 2021 - Present
Published ReferencesMichael C. Carlos Museum: Highlights of the Collections (Atlanta: Michael C. Carlos Museum, 2011), 120.

ProvenancePurchased for MCCM by Robert Walzer [Nathan Rubin - Ida Ladd Family Foundation], Georgetown, Connecticut, July 2000, possibly from Kapoor Galleries, New York, New York.

Status

On view

Collections