Cambodia defends Avalokiteshvara statue after online criticism

PHNOM PENH, Jan 11, 2026 (KPT) – Cambodian cultural authorities have defended the construction of an Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva statue in Oddar Meanchey province after images of the monument sparked criticism on social media.

The Department of Culture and Fine Arts issued a clarification after the statue, unveiled by the provincial governor on Facebook, drew comments claiming it placed a Buddhist figure at the feet of Vishnu, a Brahmanist deity, and was therefore disrespectful to Buddhism.

Officials said the sandstone sculpture represents Avalokiteshvara, a Bodhisattva revered in Mahayana Buddhism, and not the Buddha beneath another deity. The statue, they added, is a reproduction based on Angkor era models preserved at the National Museum of Cambodia and heritage sites.

According to the department, the artwork reflects the Bayon style of the late 12th to early 13th century, particularly influential under King Jayavarman VII, when Avalokiteshvara images were widely depicted in temples such as Ta Prohm, Bakan and Banteay Chhmar.

Authorities said many Avalokiteshvara statues remain preserved in museums and conservation areas, offering the public a chance to study their historical and religious significance.