Context (Other owners)
See note in record D 1976.1; Collected by: Williamson, Margaret D.
Event Date
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Catalogue Card: “11 headed Avalokita / According to legend, in Avalokiteswara’s last incarnation as a Bodhisattva, he became enlightened and ready to become Buddha and enter Nirvana. On his way there he heard weeping and wailing. Turning about he looked down and saw humanity bewailing the fact that he who had helped them with his infinite compassion was about the leave the earth and enter nirvana. Agonised by all this, he mourned so that his head split into pieces. The Dhyani Buddha Amitabha put the pieces together into eleven heads and gave him a thousand arms. Avalokiteswara vowed to remain a Bodhisattva to help suffering humanity and pledged that he would not enter Nirvana till all sentient beings were saved. Avalokiteswara is incarnate in each Dalai Lama.”
Event Date 1976
Author: Mark Elliott

Description (Physical description)
Eleven-headed Avalokita. According to the legend, in Avalokiteswara's last incarnation as a Bodhisattva he became enlightened and ready to become Buddha and enter Nirvana. On his way there he heard weeping and wailing. Turning about, he looked down and saw humanity bewailing the fact that he who had helped them with his infinite compassion was about to leave the earth and enter Nirvana. Agonized by all this, he moved so that his head split into pieces. The Dhyani Buddha Amitabha put the pieces together into eleven heads and gave him a thousand arms. Avalokiteswara vowed to remain a Bodhisattva to help suffering humanity, and pledged that he would not enter Nirvana till all sentient beings were saved. Avalokiteswara is incarnate in each Dalai Lama
Event Date 1976
Author: maa

Context (Display)
On display in the Andrews Gallery, CUMAA, until 05/08/1986.

Event Date 5/8/1986
Author: Rachel Hand

(Display)
Exhibited in the Douglas Finlay Museum of College Life, Emmanuel College, Cambridge. On loan from 1996, returned 09/2001.
Event Date 1/9/2001
Author: Mark Elliott

Context (Display)
Exhibited in 'Buddha's Word: The Life of Books in Tibet and Beyond' from 28th May 2014 - 17th January 2015. Labelled as '5. Sahasrabhuja Avalokiteshvara

This statue depicts the Bodhisattva with 1000 arms and 11 heads, symbolising the limitless compassion of the Buddhas, and the power to help every living being who is suffering in this world. On the back of the statue are sealed panels suggesting numerous consecration deposits, and several rolls of scripture have been placed in the heavy pedestal on which he stands.

Tibet. 18th century Frederick and Margaret Williamson Collection. D 1976.83'.
Event Date 28/5/2014
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

Context (Display)
Exhibited in 'Buddha's Word: The life of books in Tibet & beyond', Li Ka Shing Gallery, Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology, in the Altar section, 28 May 2014- 19 January 2015
Event Date 28/5/2014
Author: Rachel Hand

Conservation ()
CON.2014.120 |
Event Date 1/3/2016
Author: maa

Conservation ()
CON.2013.80 |
Event Date 1/3/2016
Author: maa

Conservation ()
CON.2014.120 |
Event Date 1/3/2016
Author: maa

Loan (Exhibition)
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, 11/05/2020 to 26/10/2020, The Human Touch: Making Art, Leaving Traces
Event Date 11/5/2020
Author: Katrina Dring