Image title: Padmapani Lokeshvara (16th century)

This Stone sculpture shows an image of Padmapani Lokeshvara (the Bodhisattva of Compassion), from the 16th/17th century origination from Nepal.—Materials used: Stone, traces of paint.

Description: Severe damage aside, this sculpture typifies the countless stone sculptures of the Kathmandu Valley in which over centuries the Nepalese have expressed their vision of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of compassion. The deity extends one hand in charity and with the other holds the stem of a full-blown pink lotus. It is the emblem from which h he derives an alternate name, Padmapani Lokeshvara, "Lord of the Lotus in Hand". This lotus as well as one that supports his outstretched hand and another that serves as his pedestal rise from a pool of water represented by a series of engraved, parallel lines. The deity wears an impressive three-crested crown over an elaborate coiffure of interwoven tresses. The crown's central crest bears a tiny seated figure representing the transcendent Buddha Amitabha, the head of Avalokiteshvara’s clan.

Gallery information:

The Patan Museum is located on the Durbar square of Patan (Lalitpur/Lalitapura, Kathmandu, Nepal) which is associated Keshav Narayan Chowk (Keshavnarayan)—a form of Lord Vishnu. Being listed as a World Heritage Site, the whole of Durbar square is filled with exquisite temples, sculptures and other ancient structures, of which the ancient history history can be traced to the Malla Kings of Lalitpur. It is an important site for both Buddhism and Hinduism.