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King Jayavarman VII is depicted with his hair tied in a bun, seated
with his legs crossed and his hands in dhyana mudra, the gesture of
mediation. Closed eyes, a smile illuminating his face, the serene
expression of King Jayavarman evokes compassion. This is the face of a
king who felt that the sufferings of his people were his own suffering
and who built an extensive network of hospitals to take care of his
people. A fervent Mahayana Buddhist, he placed Buddha and Lokeshvara at
the top of a pantheon in which Hindu gods were also largely represented.