S44-4

Iconography of Jayavarman VII as Cosmic Radiating Lokeśvara Image

Department of Thai Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts, Chiang Mai University, Thailand

The Cosmic Radiating Lokeśvara (Avalokiteśvara) image was initiated in the reign of King Jayavaraman VII during Bayon period of Khmer art. As described in the Mahāyāna Kāraṇḍvayūha Sūtra, pores of the Bodhisattva Lokeśvara contain unimaginable things including the countless heavens of each Buddha, represented by small Buddha images throughout the body of Cosmic Radiating Lokeśvara image. The Ṣaḍakṣarī Mahāvidyā image, the four-handed goddess, in the lower right hand of Cosmic Radiating Lokeśvara represents the Sanskrit phrase ṣaḍakṣarī mahāvidyā or the Six-Syllable great formula “Oṃ Maṇipadme Hūṃ.” When prayers of this mantra pass away, they would resurrect in the pores of Lokeśvara and would liberate from the saṃsāra suffering cycles. Simultaneously, the eight images of Goddess, Prajñāpāramitā, around the waistline of the image are believed to signify the eight Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra versions that the Buddha Śākyamuni disseminated and revealed to Bodhisattvas only. In addition, an image of Prajñāpāramitā on the chest of Cosmic Radiating Lokeśvara is believed to signify Prajñāpāramitā Hṛdaya Sūtra or the Heart Sūtra. The appearance of the face of King Jayavaraman VII, on the Cosmic Radiating Lokeśvara image, can be related to the power of Lokeśvara Bodhisattva, as mentioned in Kāraṇḍvayūha Sūtra that Lokeśvara may appear in several forms. It manifests that Jayavaraman VII, as an Avatar of Lokeśvara, utilized the aforementioned power through the icons with resembled faces in order to influence his people to the path of the physical and spiritual freedom with compassion (karuṇā) like Lokeśvara, symbolic god of compassion.