The lotus (padma) in his left hand and the small figure of the Buddha Amitabha in his hair make this sculpture among the earliest recognizable representations of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion and protection. By the seventh century Avalokiteshvara was associated with Shiva, and the antelope skin over his left arm emphasizes Avalokiteshvara’s role as a great ascetic. He sits in the posture of royal ease, with one leg pendant; the pointing gesture of his right hand may indicate contemplation. The lotus throne likely references the idea that Avalokiteshvara resides in a celestial realm.
