AVALOKITEŚWARA STATUE

Avalokiteśwara depicts the Dhyani Boddhisatva. He is shown with a gold ūrņa on his forehead and gold on his lower lip. The statue is standing on a cushion of lotuses, resting on a square pedestal. His right hand makes the gesture of abhayamudrā (casting off fear), while the left hand displays witarkamudrā, a gesture of debate and discussion.
His facial expression is serene. On his head he has an amitābha, while other pieces of jewelry include a necklace, a caste-cord, bracelets, anklets, as well as a belt. The lower body is covered by a thin, long cloth, which reaches to his ankles. In the background is a slab with a flaming border and two makara (mythological sea creatures) on either side of its base, as well as a chattra (umbrella) at the top. The technique of gilding a different metal, and the form of the flaming border on the slab in the back, suggest similarity with art forms of Northern India.