Avalokitesvara

In Mahayana Buddhism, Avalokitesvara or Avalokiteshvara is a bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. Avalokitesvara is probably the most widely worshipped Buddhist deity, especially in his highly evolved forms as Guan Yin (in China) or Kannon (in Japan), covered in a separate article. In Vajrayana Buddhism Avalokitesvara is also known as Padmapani, the Holder of the Lotus.

Table of contents

1 Origin
2 Manifestations
3 Tibetan Buddhism

Origin

The exact origin of Avalokitesvara is unclear. Like many other Buddhist deities, he is thought to have been a Hindu deity absorbed by Mahayana teaching as an aspect of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni. The word avalokita means "seeing or gazing down" and isvara means "lord" in Sanskrit. Isvara is also an alternate name for the Hindu deity Shiva, who seems to also have acted as an inspiration for Avalokiteshvara's depictions in art.

According to Mahayana doctrine, Avalokitesvara has made a great vow to listen to the prayers of all sentient beings in difficulty, and to postpone his own Buddhahood until he has helped every being on earth achieve enlightenment. Sutras associated with Avalokitesvara include the Heart Sutra and the Lotus Sutra.

Manifestations

Avalokitesvara has an extraordinarily large number of manifestations in different forms. Some of the more common ones include:

Sanskrit Characters Japanese Meaning Description
Amoghapasa 不空羅牽 fukūkenjaku Holder of the Infallible Lasso
Bhrkuti Fierce-Eyed
Cintamani-cakra Holding the Jewel Holds the jewel Cintamani
Ekadasmukha 十一面 jūichimen Eleven-Faced Additional faces to teach all in 10 planes of existence
Hayagriva Horse-Headed Wrathful form; simultaneously boddhisattva and a Wisdom King
Pandaravasini White and Pure the direct forbear of Guan Yin
Parnashabari Cloaked With Leaves
Rakta Shadakshari Six Red Syllables
Sahasra-bhuja Sahasra-netra 千手千眼 senjūsengan Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed Very popular form: see and helps all
Svetabhagavati White-Bodied
Udaka-sri Water Auspicious

Sanskrit	Characters	Japanese	Meaning	Description
Amoghapasa	不空羅牽	fukūkenjaku	Holder of the Infallible Lasso
Bhrkuti			Fierce-Eyed
Cintamani-cakra			Holding the Jewel	Holds the jewel Cintamani
Ekadasmukha	十一面	jūichimen	Eleven-Faced	Additional faces to teach all in 10 planes of existence
Hayagriva			Horse-Headed	Wrathful form; simultaneously boddhisattva and a Wisdom King
Pandaravasini			White and Pure	the direct forbear of Guan Yin
Parnashabari			Cloaked With Leaves
Rakta Shadakshari			Six Red Syllables
Sahasra-bhuja Sahasra-netra	千手千眼	senjūsengan	Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed	Very popular form: see and helps all
Svetabhagavati			White-Bodied
Udaka-sri			Water Auspicious

Tibetan Buddhism

Avalokitesvara (known as Chenrezig in Tibetan) is an important deity in Tibetan Buddhism. In particular, the Dalai Lama is held to be a manifestation of Avalokitesvara.

In Tibetan Buddhism, White Tara acts as the consort and energizer of Avalokitesvara. According to popular belief, Tara came into existence from a tear of Avalokitesvara. When the tear fell to the ground, it created a lake, and a lotus opening in the lake revealed Tara.