Restituted in December 2023 This work of art has been removed from the Museum's permanent collection. Learn more about The Met's collecting practices.

Standing Eight-Armed Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion

Cambodia

Not on view


Representing the great Khmer sculptural tradition, this sculpture merges divine power with royal likeness. While the body depicts a Buddhist savior, the face is thought to be a portrait of the Khmer ruler of twelfth-century Cambodia, Jayavarman VII (reigned 1181–1219). His closed eyes and serene smile suggest the inner calm and supreme bliss that accompany perfect enlightenment. Hewn from a single large block, the enormous figure was one of several that adorned a richly decorated Khmer temple at Angkor.

Standing Eight-Armed Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion, Stone, Cambodia

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Standing Eight-Armed Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion, Stone, Cambodia
Standing Eight-Armed Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion, Stone, Cambodia
Standing Eight-Armed Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion, Stone, Cambodia

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