Alchi Monastery Three Story Hall: Four-Armed Avalokitesvara

INDIA, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh

The statue is located within the west niche on the first story of the Three Story Hall. It is one of a series of three large sculptures, the other two are of Manjusri and Maitreya. The statues were restored periodically so the paint always appears vibrant and fresh. These Bodhisattvas symbolize the three spheres of karmic action relating to body, speech, and mind according to an inscription found beside the feet of the Maitreya statue.
Avalokitesvara has four arms, with the two right hands making the vitarka (teaching) and varada (wish-granting) mudras. The figure wears a headdress and is adorned with jewelry as well as a long flower garland that hangs to the knees. The Six Perfections are symbolized by the Bodhisattva’s jewelry: earrings (generosity), armlets (morality), necklace (perseverance), collar (diligence), belt (meditation), and bracelet (wisdom) following Vajrayana Buddhist iconography. The lower body is wrapped in a floral patterned skirt interspersed with illustrations of temples and palaces as well as figures of Bodhisattvas making offerings and heavenly musicians playing musical instruments or holding banners and parasols.