Yulin Cave 3: Eleven-Headed, Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara

CHINA, Gansu, Guazhou; Western Xia period

This mural is located on the left side of the back (east) wall and depicts one of the six manifestations of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. An eye is present on every palm of the figure’s thousand arms, which signifies the Bodhisattva’s ability to see and come to the aid of limitless sentient beings. The Bodhisattva has eleven heads, separated into five tiers. Two single heads are stacked at the top, one over the other, and below these are three sets of three heads. The main head wears a headdress. All but the second-tier face portray a compassionate expression.
Only a few of the arms on each side have been emphasized, while those at the back are only faintly portrayed. The arms extend out at various angles and each hand holds a different object or Dharma instrument. These include a sun, moon, palace, ceremonial halberd, sword, vajra, scripture container, seal, bead, rope, bell, Dharma wheel, lotus, willow branch, and Buddha image. There are also hands which hold musical instruments, such as the pipa, cymbals, and drums. Disciples of the Bodhisattva are depicted in the four corners of the image.