Item: Deity - (Unidentified Male)

Manidharin 'the Jewel Holder.' It is possible that the figure represents Manidharin the male attendant to the Three Deity Chaturbhuja Lokeshvara.

In some painted depictions of Lokeshvara and two retinue figures the Manidharin is shown with the first pair of hands pressed together at the heart and the second pair holding the stems of two flower blossoms. Manidharin can also be depicted with two arms typically holding a jewel and a lotus. (See HAR #73807 and #76004).

To the left side of Lokeshvara is the female figure, Shadakshari, white in colour, and holding the same attributes as the principal figure. Both Manidharin and Shadakshari are typically seated in a relaxed fashion. It is however possible that a sculpture of the three could have been commissioned with a larger central seated Chaturbhuja Lokeshvara and two smaller but standing figures of the attendant deities.

The sculpture is unlikely to be a depiction of Lokeshvara because of the lack of a small figure of Amitabha Buddha decorating the front of the crown, the lack of a krishnasara deerskin hanging across the left shoulder and the unusual placement of the two flowers behind the shoulders.

Jeff Watt 9-2020