Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion

Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This elegant bodhisattva, with its gently flexed figure, heavy sash dropping from one hip, and unadorned torso, reflects Licchavi-period aesthetics. The elaborate lotus base and flame-emitting radiant nimbus derive from contemporary Buddhist imagery produced in eastern Indian under Pala-dynasty patronage. The fusion of these streams shaped future Nepalese Buddhist art.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infinite CompassionAvalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infinite CompassionAvalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infinite CompassionAvalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infinite CompassionAvalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion

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.