Bodhisattva head

Without its body for additional clues, we cannot know the specific identity of this figure. The crown tells us, however, that it is a bodhisattva, a compassionate figure who has gained the ability to reach nirvana and become a buddha but delays doing so in order to help other living beings on their paths toward salvation. There are many different bodhisattvas in the Buddhist pantheon, and each one assists living beings in its own manner. Unlike buddhas, bodhisattvas remain on earth, so they are commonly depicted as princely figures, their bodies adorned with flowing robes, jewelry, and crowns.