Avalokitesvara

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Avalokitevara, bronze figure from Kurkihr, Bihr, 9th century; in Patna … (credit: Courtesy of Patna Museum, Patna (Bihar); photograph, Royal Academy of Arts, London)

Bodhisattva of infinite compassion and mercy, the most popular of Mahayana Buddhist deities. He is the earthly manifestation of Amitabha, guarding the world between the departure of the historical Buddha, Gautama, and the appearance of the future Buddha, Maitreya. He is the creator of the fourth world, the actual living universe. In China and Japan his gender became ambiguous; he is sometimes called a goddess. For Pure Land Buddhists, he forms a ruling triad with Amitabha and the bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta. In Tibetan Buddhism, he is thought to be reincarnated in each Dalai Lama in order to preserve buddha-teaching.

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(Sanskrit; Tib., spyan-ras-gzigs; Chin, Kuan-yin; Jap., Kannon or Kwannon). One of the eight great Bodhisattvas, and one whose activities especially involve the active practice of compassion (karuṇā) in order to save and protect beings. His name means ‘the Lord who gazes’ (compassionately upon beings). Though well-known from early Mahāyāna sūtras, the worship and cult of Avalokiteśvara in Tibet derives greatly from later tantric materials. Recitation of the mantra ‘Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ’ is associated with Avalokiteśvara. Several iconographic forms can be distinguished such as that with eleven heads and a thousand arms, the popular four-armed version, as well as several wrathful aspects. Avalokiteśvara is considered to be the main patron Bodhisattva of Tibet, and the Dalai Lama is viewed as his incarnate manifestation.

Avalokiteśvara