Collection record · Belief & ritual
Bodhisattva of Compassion as Lokeshvara the Sky Flyer (Khasarpana)
The collection record classifies this work as sculpture. It is dated late 1000s. Recorded culture or place: Eastern India, Bihar, Pala dynasty, reign of Ramapala (reign 1078/79–at least 1130).
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A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Bodhisattva of Compassion as Lokeshvara the Sky Flyer (Khasarpana)
- Date
- late 1000s
- Culture / origin
- Eastern India, Bihar, Pala dynasty, reign of Ramapala (reign 1078/79–at least 1130)
- Materials and technique
- Kaolin with traces of pigment
- Dimensions
- Overall: 7.7 cm (3 1/16 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 1991.155
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
Exquisite Buddhist votive sculptures carved from soft ivorylike stone were made for personal devotional use during the 11th and 12th centuries in particular.
This form of Avalokiteshvara, the powerful bodhisattva of compassion, sits with one foot down in the posture of royal ease, the Buddha Amitabha in his crown. This special form of the bodhisattva of compassion brings relief to hungry ghosts. A hungry ghost with a distended belly praises him in the lower left corner of this plaque, to the left of the tiny regal figure with a manuscript tucked in his left arm.
Green Tara is at Avalokiteshvara's proper right, holding a lotus, and the four-armed goddess Bhrikuti holds a rosary and water bottle at his left.
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Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · The Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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