Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, is represented here in his cosmic form with eleven heads emphasizing his watchful nature and six arms. Eight of the eleven heads represent the cardinal directions and their intermediate points, while the remaining three symbolize the zenith, nadir, and center. The eleventh head at the top represents the Buddha Amitabha, of whom Avalokiteshvara is considered to be an emanation. He symbolizes the universal compassion of all Buddhas. Apart from Amitabha, the ten heads represent Avalokiteshvara’s attainment of each of the ten Bodhisattva stages and also symbolize his watching over beings throughout the ten directions of space. The three heads on the lower tier have benign faces, while the remaining seven heads are wrathful. The three left hands hold the stem of a lotus, water pot, and staff. The upper right hand holds an honorific fly whisk. The middle right hand is held in the gesture of exposition (vitarka mudra) and the lower right hand is held in the gesture of charity (varada mudra). He sits cross-legged in the meditation posture (padma asana) on a lotus base. He wears antelope skin draped around his shoulders, patterned dhoti, necklace, and bracelets. He has a separate nimbus surmounted by a stupa (funerary mound), festoons, and the sun and moon; and an aureole (prabhavali). Both coronas are executed with a flaming border. The pierced front of the pedestal has a demigod (yaksha) in the center with his right hand raised in a supporting gesture. He is flanked by two rearing lions. An obscure Tibetan inscription along the front and sides of the pedestal base has been provisionally translated as, Pleased to set this up at Hrogs tri as a vow (in return for) help from Nya’a (Nyag) Chang Lha. (Translation by H. E. Richardson.)

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