Item: Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva & Buddhist Deity) - Simhanada (Lion's Roar)

Simhanada, Avalokiteshvara (Tibetan: seng ge dra, chen re zi. English: the Lion's Roar, All Seeing Lord). The composition is painted in an 18th century Tashi Lhunpo Monastery style commissioned by Palden Yeshe (1738-1780. 3rd (6th) Panchen Lama,) as a gift for the Qianlong Emperor.

"... with a body white in colour, one face, two hands, three peaceful eyes, with the face slightly smiling. The right hand is extended above the knee in the mudra of giving refuge. The palm of the left hand is supported on the moon seat, holding the stem of a red lotus, the petals blossoming next to the ear. Above is the cleansing blue sword of wisdom. The left breast is covered with the skin of a krishnasara deer; encircled with a white Brahmin string necklace; with a lower garment of red silk. The body is slightly thin and dexterous. At the left above a red lotus with eight petals is a skullcup filled with various fragrant flowers; at the right, a trident with a green shaft entwined with a white snake. The left [hand] is in the gesture of holding a fragrant lotus." (Written by Yarlungpa Sengge Gyaltsen, 13th century. (Jeff Watt, Vancouver, Canada, September, 1985).

At the upper left is Amitabha Buddha. At the upper right is Jangsem Dawa Gyaltsen. At the bottom center is Shadbhuja Mahakala.

Jeff Watt [added 5-2020]