Bodhisattva Vajrasattva

At first glance this sculpture appears to represent the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, who has a lotus as his symbol. However, closer inspection reveals that the figure once held a vajra upright between two fingers of his right hand, which also explains this hand’s unusual position. A break on the lotus further indicates that there was once a bell attached to it. These subtle details reveal that this is in fact Vajrasattva, who can be understood as a primordial buddha, an aspiration deity, or the primary bodhisattva of the vajra family.