 
Tibetan Name: Chenrezi
Materials: Lost Wax Method, Gold Plated Copper, Made in Nepal
Height: 13 1/2 inches
Width: 10 1/2 inches
Depth:
4 inches
Weight: 5 pounds
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Avalokiteshvara
Sahasrabhuja Avalokiteshvara is one of the different forms of
Avalokiteshvara
(which is one of the 108 incarnations of Lokeshvara).
He has 11 heads and 1,000 arms. The main image is 11 headed and 8 armed.
In the Sahasrabhuja Avalokitesvara 8 arms are prominent. The eleventh head
on the top is of Amitabha. The tenth head is fearful while the other heads
are placid. The principal pair of hands are in
Namaskar Mudra (Gesture of
Adoration) while the uppermost right holds a rosary and the uppermost left holds
a full blown
lotus. The lower right is in
Varada Mudra (Charity
Gesture) and the lower left hold the indestructible jewel. In
the middle right hand he holds a holy vase and a bow and arrow in the middle
left.
The back of the piece was
made using a process called
repoussé,
the process of ornamenting metallic
surfaces with designs in relief hammered out from the back by hand.
Avalokiteshvara and the thousand arms:
Buddhist legend presents
Avalokiteshvara as vowing to never rest until he had
freed all sentient beings from samsara. Despite strenuous effort, he realized
that still many unhappy beings were yet to be saved. After struggling to
comprehend the needs of so many, his head split into eleven pieces. Amitabha
Buddha, seeing his plight, gave him eleven heads with which to hear the cries of
the suffering. Upon hearing these cries and comprehending them,
Avalokiteshvara
attempted to reach out to all those who needed aid, but found that his two arms
shattered into pieces. Once more, Amitabha came to his aid and appointed him a
thousand arms with which to aid the many. Many Himalayan versions of the tale
include eight arms with which
Avalokiteshvara skillfully upholds the Dharma, each
possessing its own particular implement.
His Mantra "Om Mane Padme
Hum" is found inscribed on rocks, temples and prayer wheels throughout Tibet and
Asia.
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