Avalokiteshvara

Avalokiteshvara courtesy of Lama Tsondru Sangpo

Avalokiteshvara (Skt. Avalokiteśvara; Tib. Chenrezik; Wyl. spyan ras gzigs) — one of the Eight Great Close Sons. The essence of the speech of all the buddhas and incarnation of their compassion.

Forms

Masculine Forms

One Face and Two Arms

• Lokanatha (Wyl. 'jig rten mgon po)
• Khasarpana or Khasarpani
• Padmanarteshvara (Wyl. padma gar gyi dbang phyug)
• Nilakhanta
• Padmapani
• Simhanada (Wyl. seng ge nga ro)
• Tailokyavashamkara
• Vajradharma (Wyl. rdo rje chos)

One Face and Four Arms

• Chaturbhuja
• Jinasagara (Wyl. gyal wa gya tso)
• Shadakshrilokeshvara (Wyl. spyan ras gzigs phyag bzhin pa)
• Rakta Lokeshvara

One Face and Eight Arms

• Amoghapasha (Wyl. don shags)

Three Faces

• Chintachakra

Eleven Faces

• Ekadashamukha (Wyl. bcu gcig zhal)
• Sahasrabhujalokeshvara (Wyl. chag tong shal chu chig)
• Vajragarbha

Feminine Forms

• Guanyin (Chinese)/Kannon(Japanese)

Further Reading

• Jamgön Mipham, A Garland of Jewels, (trans. by Lama Yeshe Gyamtso), Woodstock: KTD Publications, 2008.
• Bokar Rinpoche, Chenrezig, the Lord of Love , Clearpoint Press, 1991.
• John Blofeld, Bodhisattva of Compassion—The Mystical Tradition of Kuan Yin, Shambhala, 1988.

Internal Links

• Balaha
• Mani Kabum
• Mani mantra

External Links

• Avalokiteshvara outline page at Himalayan Art Resources