Padmapāṇi Lokeśvara (Avalokiteśvara as Lotus Holder)

Padmapāṇi means “lotus holder,” and was another name for Avalokiteśvara, the bodhisattva who represents the vast compassion of all of the buddhas. Here, Padmapāṇi holds the stem of a lotus in their proper left hand, and the blossom rests by their left shoulder. Because the lotus is a beautiful flower that rises on a long stem out of muddy ponds, it became a symbol of purity in South Asian religions. In Buddhism the lotus represents the enlightened mind that rises above the ignorance, attachment, and aversion that keep us tied to our world of suffering (Saṃsāra).

As an earthly emanation of the buddha Amitābha, Avalokiteśvara can often be identified by a small image of that buddha in their crown, seen here. Another common feature is the deerskin (krishnasara) worn on one shoulder. In Buddhist art deer (mriga, sometimes antelopes) are rich in meaning, referring to the Deer Park where Shakyamuni Buddha first preached; they also symbolize a fearful being that has conquered fear in the presence of the Buddhist teachings (Dharma). The bodhisattva’s right hand is in the gesture granting fearlessness (abhaya mudrā).

The style of this sculpture suggests that it was made in the Guge Kingdom in Western Tibet (ca. 10th–17th centuries).