A newly unveiled Lokeshvara statue in Oddar Meanchey province has sparked lively public debate, with some Buddhist monks questioning its design while authorities defend it as a proud cultural symbol.
The eight-armed figure, completed at a roundabout in the provincial town, was intended to welcome tourists and inspire local pride. Governor Mean Chanyada hailed the statue as a “magnificent symbol” of Oddar Meanchey, adding that it reflects resilience despite the province’s history of conflict.
Yet soon after its completion, criticism emerged online. Venerable Koeun Sokkin, chief monk of Wat Narin Koy in Kampong Thom, raised concerns about small Buddha images carved on the statue’s toes, ankles and waist. He asked whether such details might be disrespectful to Buddhism, Cambodia’s state religion, and urged clarification from those behind the project.
Lokeshvara, also known as Avalokiteshvara, is revered in Mahayana Buddhism as the Bodhisattva of Compassion, embodying mercy and the relief of suffering. Provincial officials responded by stressing that Lokeshvara worship has deep roots in Khmer history, particularly under King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century.
Chuon Kakada, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Cult and Religion, explained that Buddha figures on Lokeshvara statues are a recognised feature of Bayon-style art. He noted that these smaller images, often representing Amitabha Buddha, symbolise the spread of compassion and the Buddha’s essence across all realms.
He pointed to examples at Banteay Chhmar and Preah Khan temples, as well as a celebrated statue housed at the National Museum in Phnom Penh, as evidence that such designs are part of Cambodia’s artistic heritage.
Officials emphasised that the statue is not intended as an insult but as a continuation of Mahayana tradition, where the presence of Buddha images on Lokeshvara signifies completeness and divine protection.
For now, the eight-armed statue stands as both a new landmark and a focal point of debate—highlighting the delicate balance between cultural pride, historical interpretation and religious sensitivity in modern Cambodia.
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