Bodhisattva Guan Yin - Northern India - last quarter of the 20th century -

The Bodhisattva Guan Yin is a female figure and is highly revered in both Eastern Buddhism and Taoism, she is a deity of mercy and compassion

The generally accepted theory in East Asia is that Guanyin originates from the Sanskrit Avalokiteśvara (or Âryâvalokiteśvarâ).

Commonly regarded in the West as the goddess of Mercy, Guanyin is revered by Taoists as the Immortal.

“It is She who observes all the sufferings of the world”, this is the meaning of the name Guan Yin, Bodhisattva of Compassion , she is the one who embodies the pinnacle of mercy, compassion, kindness and love*.

The name, in fact, means "she who observes the sounds or laments of the world" and in some cultures she also takes on the role of mother goddess and protector of sailors. venerated as the patroness of sailors and fishermen.

The cult of the Bodhisattva of Compassion was born at the dawn of Chinese Buddhism , around the 1st century AD and, crossing Korea, also reached Japan towards the middle of the 7th century.

The title of Bodhisattva instead refers to a level of spiritual realization that is above Arhat and below Buddha.

The full name is Guan Shi Yin Pusa, the translation of the Buddhist sutras has in fact replaced the name with Guan Shi Yin, the Chinese equivalent of Avalokiteśvara, while the word Pusa means Bodhisattva.

This figure uses a very specific iconography, especially widespread in the Himalayan area and linked to the so-called "esoteric Buddhism", which features the image of the divinity standing with eight arms, each holding a symbol of Buddhist faith and an unspecified number of other arms which act as lateral wings .

Our rare Asian “white metal” statue, comes from Northern India and is dated to the last quarter of the 20th century. It measures 26.2 x 14.3 x 9.5 cm. and weighs 990 gr. in lost wax casting, has a small lack on the rear base.

She is leaning on a double lotus flower, a symbol of purity, rebirth, resilience and transcendence . An interesting detail is the necklace she wears around her neck with a heart, confirming the qualities she embodies.

Rare because it has 14 arms, as well as many hands (representing the arms), in the form of a halo rather than lateral wings.