Avalokitesvara, known in Cambodia as Lokesvara or Preah Karuna, is one of the most important spiritual figures in Khmer religious history, uniquely adapted to the Cambodian cultural landscape.

His image radiates compassion, serenity, and benevolence—a spiritual ideal that has inspired the country’s art, architecture, and collective spirit for centuries.

Avalokitesvara (meaning “The Lord Who Looks Down”) is revered throughout Mahayana Buddhism as the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion (mahakaruna)—one who hears the cries of all beings and vows to aid their liberation. In Khmer, he is known as Lokesvara (Lord of the World) or Preah Karuna (“Holy Compassion”), emphasizing his role as a universal protector and healer.

2. Iconography and Forms in Khmer Art

• Multiple Faces and Arms:
  In Cambodian temples, Avalokitesvara is depicted with two, four, six, eight, or even ten arms, each holding symbolic objects like the lotus, rosary, water vase, and book. These attributes signify purity, wisdom, immortality, and compassion.

• Four-Faced Lokesvara:
  The most iconic Khmer adaptation is the massive, serene four-faced towers at Bayon Temple in Angkor Thom, believed to represent both Avalokitesvara and King Jayavarman VII, embodying the king’s ideals of watchfulness and compassion for his people.

• Padmapani Depictions:
  As Padmapani (“Holder of the Lotus”), Avalokitesvara is frequently shown with a lotus blossom, representing purity amidst the world’s struggles.

• Unique Khmer Attributes:
  Khmer representations often incorporate rich jewelry, intricate crowns, and are rigid in posture—a style influenced by Angkor Wat aesthetics. The deity may appear in scenes alongside the Buddha (under the naga) and Prajnaparamita (wisdom), particularly in hospital chapels and sanctuaries dedicated to healing.

3. Avalokitesvara and Khmer Kingship

• Jayavarman VII’s Patronage:
  Khmer devotion to Avalokitesvara flourished under King Jayavarman VII (late 12th–early 13th century). As a Mahayana Buddhist monarch, he spread the worship of Lokesvara as a model of the compassionate ruler. Bayon’s faces, the hospitals, and the Preah Khan temple all honor Avalokitesvara and reflect the king’s vision of Buddhist kingship.

• Political and Cosmic Protector:
  The placement of Lokesvara’s images atop pagodas and temples is seen as invoking his protection over the kingdom, much as Brahma’s four faces were venerated in earlier Cambodian Brahmanism.

4. Compassion as Social Healing

• Healer and Redeemer:
  Avalokitesvara’s persona as a healer is central in Khmer Buddhism. He is invoked for relief from suffering, the purification of sin, and as a source of hope, especially during periods of national trauma and recovery.

• Cultural Influence:
  Cambodia’s festivals, rituals, and even the arts incorporate images of Avalokitesvara, celebrating his boundless mercy and reinforcing a spiritual sense of unity and resilience.

5. Syncretism and Ongoing Relevance

While today’s Cambodia is primarily Theravada Buddhist, Avalokitesvara remains a key spiritual figure, testifying to the lasting impact of Mahayana influences in Khmer history. His integration into folk belief, temple art, and public monuments ensures that the Bodhisattva of Compassion continues to inspire both spiritual practice and national identity in the modern era.