An Illustrated Lecture by John Guy
Florence and Herbert Irving Curator of the Arts of South and Southeast Asia, The Met.

The Bodhisattva Cult and a Newly Rediscovered Figure
This lecture explores the cult of the Bodhisattva and a recently rediscovered figure known variously as Lokanatha (Saviour of the World), Lokeshvara (Lord of the World), or more broadly as Avalokiteshvara (the All-Seeing Lord).

This Annual Distinguished Lecture on the Arts of South and Southeast Asia presents one of the most important Pala-dynasty sculptures to enter a Western collection in the past century, and locates it in the wider setting of Vajrayana Bodhisattva cults of medieval eastern India.

March 16, 2018, 1 hour 12 min. watch

Image:

Bodhisattva known variously as Lokanatha (Savior of the World), Lokeshvara (Lord of the World) or the overarching Avalokiteshvara (The Allseeing Lord).

All conquering is the Savior of the World. 

His lotus hand, stretched down in charity,

is ripping streams of nectar to assuage 

the thirsty spirits of the dead.

His glorious face is bright with gathered moonlight

and his glance is soft

with that pity that he bears within.

So exalts the poet Ratnakirti of unknown date in a panegyric of the Bodhisattva known variously as Lokanatha (Savior of the World), Lokeshvara (Lord of the World) or the overarching Avalokiteshvara (The Allseeing Lord).

Categories: Buddhism