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Sambas: Four-Armed Bodhisattva
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Sambas: Four-Armed Bodhisattva
INDONESIA, West Kalimantan, Sambas; 10th century; Gold, silver, and ruby; H: 19.3 cm; British Museum, London, United Kingdom
The Bodhisattva's elaborate topknot includes a Buddha, and tresses of hair fall down over the shoulders. A hollow nimbus circles the head that is joined at the top by an elongated mandorla. The mandorla is edged with flames and set with a red jewel at the top. The upper body of the Bodhisattva is bare except for a narrow stole worn diagonally across the chest. A star-studded skirt is about the lower body and secured by two ornamented belts. The right arm at the front is lowered in varada (wish-granting) mudra while the hand above holds prayer beads. The two left hands hold a lotus and a sutra scroll. The figure stands on the pod of a double-lotus pedestal. |
