Water-moon Avalokiteshvara

The bodhisattva sits on top of his mountain-island paradise, called Potalaka in Sanskrit, Botarakgasan in Korean. This paradise is said to be located in the sea south of India. The Avatamsaka Sutra relates the visit of the boy-pilgrim Sudhana to this paradise, where he hears the Law preached by Avalokiteshvara. The boy appears here at the lower right. At the lower left is a regal figure who may represent the Dragon King making an offering to the bodhisattva.