Jago Temple: Amoghapasa Avalokitesvara

INDONESIA, East Java, Malang

The sculpture was one of five Amoghapasa statues commissioned by King Kertanegara (reigned 1268–1292), the last ruler of the Singosari Kingdom (circa 1222–1292). They were enshrined at Jago Temple
The serene Bodhisattva has eight arms and wears a crown-like headdress that is fronted by an image of a Buddha. The figure is richly jeweled but also wears a plain sacred thread diagonally across the body. The four hands on the left hold a vase, a lotus, a trident and a sutra manuscript, while the right hands display the varada (wish-granting) and abhaya (fearlessness) mudras, as well as holding a noose and prayer beads. The Bodhisattva stands on an oval double lotus supported on a plain platform typical of that period.
The top part of the surrounding mandorla contains images of eight seated Buddhas, each displaying a different mudra. There are four standing Bodhisattvas at the bottom, of which two have been identified as Hayagriva Avalokitesvara and Bhrkuti. The inclusion of these figures is an allusion to the Vajrayana Womb Realm Mandala.
There are inscriptions on the reverse side describing the origin of the artwork as well as a prayer for the benefit of all teachers, parents and sentient beings.