Mogao Cave 3: Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara - Mahadevi

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Yuan dynasty

This image is located on the north wall to the left of the Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara and opposite the image of Vasu. Mahadevi is considered a Dharma protector in many schools of Buddhism. According to Buddhist sutras, her elder brother is Vaisravana.
Mahadevi is portrayed with a round face, flowing garments, and hair which is decorated with a jeweled flower headdress and tied with a ribbon at the back. A gold and white shawl is draped over the shoulders and an accessory resembling a bird’s wing is tied on the right arm. The figure wears a white and red dress with wide sleeves, and holds a lotus in the left palm. The overall appearance of the figure is that of a graceful and compassionate noble woman of the Yuan dynasty.