Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva & Buddhist Deity) - Shristhikantha

སྤྱན་རས་གཟིགས། 观音菩萨
(item no. 89001)
Origin Location Nepal
Date Range 1700 - 1799
Size 108x88.50cm (42.52x34.84in)
Collection Private
Notes about the Central Figure

Alternate Names: Lokeshvara Avalokita Lokanata Lokanatha Mahakarunika

Classification: Deity

Appearance: Peaceful

Gender: Male

Interpretation / Description

Shristhikantha, Rakta Lokeshvara (Tibetan: chen re zi mar po. English: the Red Lord of the World), a meditational form of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. The standard form of the deity has one face and two hands. This is a non-standard form and is depicted with a thousand faces and a thousand arms.

Karandavyuha Sutra:
bka' 'gyur (stog pho brang bris ma). 'phags pa za ma tog bkod pa shes bya ba theg pa chen po'i mdo. Volume 74, Chapter 4, pages 501-502. "From the eyes are the sun [Surya] and moon [Chandra], from the forehead Maheshvara [Shiva], from the shoulder Brahma, from the heart the Great Powerful One [Vishnu], from the two teeth the Goddess Sarasvati, from the mouth all of the wind is born [Vayu], from the feet earth [Bhudevi], and from the belly arises the Water God [Varuna]."

Jeff Watt 2-2013

84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha: The Basket’s Display (Kāraṇḍa­vyūha, ’’phags pa za ma tog bkod pa zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo)

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Publication: Karandavyuha Sutra (Selections)
Nepal: Paintings
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Buddhist Deity: Avalokita, Shristhikantha (Red, Standing)
Subject: Universal Deities (Appearance)
Buddhist Deity: Avalokiteshvara Masterworks (Painting)
Buddhist Deity: Avalokiteshvara (Forms Based on Appearance)
Buddhist Deity: Avalokita, Shristhikantha (Context & Iconography)
Region: Nepal Main Page