Avalokitesvara in Pala Art: An Iconographic study with special reference to Sadhanamala
Associate Professor, Department of History of Art, the Indian Institute of Heritage, Noida, Deemed to be University, India
Chitrolekha Journal 8:1 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/cjad.81.v8n108
[Article History: Received: 17 April 2024. Revised: 28 June 2024. Accepted: 29 June 2024. Published: 30 June 2024.]
Abstract
This paper attempts to trace the evolution of Avalokitesvara from being an attendant deity to becoming one of the prominent deities of the Buddhist pantheon through the development of its imagery and its representation in various Buddhist textual sources. This paper particularly focuses on the iconographic and stylistic depiction of Avalokitesvara images of the Pala period. During this period, the imagery of Avalokitesvara became highly evolved and complex with the efflorescence of Vajrayana Buddhism. Examples of its many forms have been highlighted to signify its various manifestations and its popularity as a Buddhist deity within the region of India as well as abroad in regions such as China, Nepal, Tibet and others.
Keywords: Buddha, Bodhisattva, Padmapani, Avalokitesvara, Sadaksari Lokesvara, Simhanada, Khasarpana, Lokanath, Dhyani Buddha, Amitabha, Sadhanamala, Mahavastu, Karandavyuha Sutra
Sustainable Development Goals: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Citation: Kumari, S. (2024). Avalokitesvara in Pala Art: An Iconographic study with special reference to Sadhanamala. Chitrolekha Journal 8:1 https://doi.org/10.21659/cjad.81.v8n108