Bodhisattva, Probably Amoghapasa Lokeshvara

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

In Nepal a popular manifestation of Avalokiteshvara is the eight-armed Amoghapasa, the lord whose noose (pasa) never fails to bind and secure devotees—that is, a redeemer whose powers of salvation are infallible. Here only two of the original eight arms survive intact. The surface shows traces of having been polychromed, and the figure would have been clad in rich garments during worship, including temple festivals.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art