Description
Outstanding large figure of the eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara. Fire-gilt bronze. Tibet. 18th century. Standing upright on a lotus pedestal, the Bodhisattva of universal compassion appears in his eleven-headed and eight-armed form. His primary hands in anjalimudra, with six more radiating out to the sides. In his upper right hand a pearl that was previously part of the rosary, which is no longer preserved. He wears a long dhoti, numerous body and head ornaments, as well as a floating shawl and an antelope skin over his shoulder. Wooden base plate. Partially with cold painting. Attributes not preserved. Originally from India, Avalokiteshvara (Tib. Chenrezig) became one of the most revered deities in Tibetan Buddhism as early as the 7th century. According to the Mani Kambum, an important religious text from the 12th/13th century, the Buddha Shakyamuni prophesied that the Bodhisattva would be the subjugator of the "barbarians" in Tibet and the leader of his people to enlightenment. This is why Avalokiteshvara is the patron saint of Tibet and his mantra "om-mani-padme-hum" has been the most important among Buddhists for over a thousand years. Among numerous emanations and forms of Avalokiteshvara, the multi-headed and multi-armed figures originating from Hinduism, such as Ekadashamukha and Amoghapasha, are particularly popular in esoteric Vajrayana Buddhism. This figure belongs to this series and is of a type that has been developed over several centuries. The powerful, pillar-like appearance is completed by rows of crowned heads, topped by the head of Amitabha - to whom Avalokiteshvara owes the eleven faces. With many heads and arms, he looks in all directions and acts in all worlds. The eye on his hand in varadamudra beholds the suffering that the eyes of his heads do not recognize. Where a peaceful approach cannot drive out the demons, the wrathful Mahakala, whose head appears below that of Amitabha, intervenes. Thus the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara truly proves to be the manifestation of Universal Compassion. Like the black antelope whose skin hangs over his shoulder, the Bodhisattva is prepared to sacrifice everything he has out of the deepest compassion in order to help all beings in the world and set them on the path to salvation. H 68 cm Provenance Private collection, Hesse, according to the consignor acquired from Koller, Zurich, 1975
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Outstanding large figure of the eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara. Fire-gilt bronze. Tibet. 18th century. Standing upright on a lotus pedestal, the Bodhisattva of universal compassion appears in his eleven-headed and eight-armed form. His primary hands in anjalimudra, with six more radiating out to the sides. In his upper right hand a pearl that was previously part of the rosary, which is no longer preserved. He wears a long dhoti, numerous body and head ornaments, as well as a floating shawl and an antelope skin over his shoulder. Wooden base plate. Partially with cold painting. Attributes not preserved. Originally from India, Avalokiteshvara (Tib. Chenrezig) became one of the most revered deities in Tibetan Buddhism as early as the 7th century. According to the Mani Kambum, an important religious text from the 12th/13th century, the Buddha Shakyamuni prophesied that the Bodhisattva would be the subjugator of the "barbarians" in Tibet and the leader of his people to enlightenment. This is why Avalokiteshvara is the patron saint of Tibet and his mantra "om-mani-padme-hum" has been the most important among Buddhists for over a thousand years. Among numerous emanations and forms of Avalokiteshvara, the multi-headed and multi-armed figures originating from Hinduism, such as Ekadashamukha and Amoghapasha, are particularly popular in esoteric Vajrayana Buddhism. This figure belongs to this series and is of a type that has been developed over several centuries. The powerful, pillar-like appearance is completed by rows of crowned heads, topped by the head of Amitabha - to whom Avalokiteshvara owes the eleven faces. With many heads and arms, he looks in all directions and acts in all worlds. The eye on his hand in varadamudra beholds the suffering that the eyes of his heads do not recognize. Where a peaceful approach cannot drive out the demons, the wrathful Mahakala, whose head appears below that of Amitabha, intervenes. Thus the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara truly proves to be the manifestation of Universal Compassion. Like the black antelope whose skin hangs over his shoulder, the Bodhisattva is prepared to sacrifice everything he has out of the deepest compassion in order to help all beings in the world and set them on the path to salvation. H 68 cm Provenance Private collection, Hesse, according to the consignor acquired from Koller, Zurich, 1975
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