PATAN MUSEUM EXHIBITION
This statue was part of the exhibition in the Patan Museum: "The Revival of Newari Woodcarving, 2024".
Length: 90 cm / Width: 62 cm / Depth: 25 cm
Shadakshari Lokeshvara: aka Avalokiteshvara, Bodhisattva of Compassion.
This magnificent relief on Magnolia Champaca is a slightly modified replica of a relief, which won the Nepalese National Fine Arts Prize in 2020 (amongst all categories of traditional statues).
Shadakshari Lokeshvara (the Lord of the Six Syllabes) is a manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva a of Compassion. He is the Lord of the six realms of existence, watching over and helping all beings. He is the personification of the mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum” (“Greetings to the Lotus Jewel”). In Sanskrit, "shadakshari" means "six syllabes" in relation to the six syllabes of the mantra.
Seated on a throne, he holds a wish-fulfilling gem in his hands, a crystal rosary, and a lotus of transcendent wisdom. Just above him stands the mythological bird Garuda surrounded by two nagkanya.
The throne of Lokeshvara is surmounted by the five “Dhyanis” Buddhas who represent five aspects of the wisdom of the Buddha. From left to right, are seated on lion-headed thrones: Ratnasambhava, Akshobhya, Vairocana, Amitabha and Amoghasiddhi.
Just below the throne stands Vajrapani, the protector and guide of Gautama Buddha.
To the left of Vajrapani is Akala, topped by a white Tara and Guru Vajrasatva.
On the right is Chandra Bhairav, topped by a Green Tara and Manjushree.
The relief rests on a base with the symbol of Kalachakra or Wheel of Time (from the Sanskrit “kala”: time and “chakra”: wheel).
