Avalokiteshvara & Two Bon Deities Confusion
It is easy to confuse the Buddhist Eleven-faced Avalokiteshvara with the two Bon deities Kunzang Gyalwa Gyatso and Kunzang Gyalwa Dupa
The Eleven-faced Avalokiteshvara, Ekadashamukha, a very early Indian Buddhist deity, has several different forms but the two most recognizable are the standing and the sitting figures. In the Bon Religion there are also two forms that are very similar to the Ekadashamukha: Kunzang Gyalwa Gyatso (standing) and Kunzang Gyalwa Dupa (sitting). The number of faces and arms is not exactly equal between the Buddhist and Bon forms but the general appearance is more than enough to cause confusion. Both of the Bon deities hold a svastika scepter making it especially easy to recognize sculptural figures. For paintings, the svastika, over-all context and numerous retinue figures in the composition should help to determine either a Buddhist or Bon iconographic program.