The Bodhisattva Padmapani Lokeshvara

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Padmapani (“The Lotus-Bearer”) stands majestically, his lowered hand in the boon-granting gesture (varadamudra) while his raised hand holds the stem of a white lotus (padma) that blooms above his shoulder, serving to invoke the purity of Buddhist thought. Padmapani is finely dressed and bejeweled, as befits a savior prince. Flowers decorate his waist cloth, secured with a jeweled belt. Settings indicate where gems once adorned him. The stylization of the figure is a reminder that the artist responsible was strictly following ritual manuals of design (citrasastras). Superb modeling, imposing scale, and majestic bearing combine to create one of the greatest Nepalese Buddhist sculptures known.

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