Four-Armed Avalokiteshvara; Chenrezig; Chaturbhuja Avalokiteshvara
---This exquisite 40cm / 15.7" Chenrezig Buddha statue represents the finest of Nepalese master craftsmanship—a pure copper hand-carved masterwork created using ancient traditional techniques, featuring complete 24k gold-gilding and a meticulously carved double lotus throne.
· Height: 40 cm / 15.7 inches
· Material: Pure copper with complete 24k gold-gilding
· Style: Four-Armed Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig) in full vajra posture, double lotus throne
· Origin: Masterwork hand-carved in Nepal, Kathmandu Valley
· Ideal for: Meditation space, home altar, spiritual art collection, compassion practice
Four-Armed Avalokiteshvara, known in Tibetan as Chenrezig and in Sanskrit as Chaturbhuja Avalokiteshvara, is the embodiment of boundless compassion in Buddhist tradition. He is revered as the compassionate protector of all beings, with every Tibetan Buddhist school honoring him as the embodiment of all Buddhas' compassion. His mantra, "Om Mani Padme Hum," is the most recited prayer in the Himalayan world, invoking his compassionate energy for the benefit of all beings.
Seated in full vajra posture (padmasana) upon a magnificent double lotus throne, his serene expression embodies the perfect peace of enlightened compassion—downcast eyes that gaze upon all beings with unconditional love, a gentle smile radiating the warmth of boundless care. The three eyes (including the wisdom eye in his forehead) perceive all suffering and respond with immediate compassionate activity.
His four arms each carry profound symbolic meaning. His first two hands are folded at his heart in anjali mudra, holding a wish-fulfilling jewel that represents the compassionate intention to benefit all beings. This jewel grants the wishes of those who call upon him with sincere devotion. His upper right hand holds a crystal mala (prayer beads), symbolizing his continuous activity of liberating beings from suffering. Each bead represents one being he guides toward enlightenment. His upper left hand holds a lotus flower, representing pure compassion that remains unstained by the world while arising from the world.
The double lotus throne beneath him features two layers of individually carved petals—each petal precisely shaped, their tips slightly curled, creating a throne of sacred beauty. The upper layer of petals faces upward, representing liberation, while the lower layer faces downward, symbolizing compassion descending to benefit all beings.
The ancient technique used in crafting this piece follows time-honored methods preserved in the Kathmandu Valley for centuries. The lost-wax process, detailed hand-chasing, and careful application of gold-gilding have been executed with exceptional precision by a master artisan. The complete 24k gold-gilding adds radiant luminosity to the entire sculpture, with multiple layers of pure gold carefully applied using traditional mercury-gilding techniques.
Every element of this hand-carved masterwork reflects extraordinary skill. The elaborate five-jewel crown adorning his head represents the five wisdoms, each jewel rendered with crisp definition. Long silk ribbons cascade from his crown, their delicate folds carved with precision. The lotus at his shoulder is carved with gracefully curling stems, its blossoms opening in perfect symmetry.
According to traditional sources, Four-Armed Avalokiteshvara holds a central position in Buddhist practice. He is considered the source from which all other forms of Avalokiteshvara emanate—from the thousand-armed form that reaches in all directions to the two-armed form that appears as the Dalai Lama.
For more than a millennium, the Kathmandu Valley has nurtured a living lineage of metal sculptors who have preserved the secrets of ancient lost-wax creation. This 40cm Chenrezig masterwork, with its exquisite double lotus throne and complete gold-gilding, represents that living heritage—a timeless expression of boundless compassion.
