Khara Khoto: Eleven-Headed, Eight-Armed Avalokitesvara

CHINA, Inner Mongolia, Alxa; Western Xia period

The white prominent head of the Eleven-Headed, Eight-Armed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is flanked by a green head on the left and a yellow head on the right. The heads are arranged in rows, with the red head of Amitabha Buddha at the top. Two of Avalokitesvara’s hands form the anjali (reverence) mudra in front of the chest. The other six hands hold a white lotus, a yellow vase, a bow and arrow, black prayer beads, and a golden Dharma wheel, or form a mudra. The Bodhisattva is seated on a lotus throne with an ornate gold backrest. A red mandorla surrounds the throne. Above the mandorla, there are two monastics, possibly representations of Mahakasyapa and Ananda. To the left and right of Avalokitesvara are the Four Heavenly Kings. The Five Dhyani Buddhas are depicted in Tibetan style in the top row of the painting. At the bottom, from left to right, are Hayagriva, Usnisa Sitatapatra, Marichi, and Tara, all seated on a single long lotus throne.