Friday, June 17, 2011

196.

Avalokiteśvara is a bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. He is one of the more widely revered bodhisattvas in mainstream Mahayana Buddhism.

The original name for this bodhisattva was Avalokitasvara. The Chinese name for Avalokitasvara is Guānshìyīn Púsa, which is a translation of the earlier name "Avalokitasvara Bodhisattva." This bodhisattva is variably depicted as male or female, and may also be referred to simply as Guānyīn in certain contexts.

In Sanskrit, Avalokitesvara is also referred to as Padmapāni ("Holder of the Lotus") or Lokeśvara ("Lord of the World"). In Tibetan, Avalokiteśvara is known as Chenrezig, and is said to be incarnated in the Dalai Lama, the Karmapa and other high lamas.

He is also known as Padmapani, the holder of the lotus. He is invariably depicted as holding a lotus.

What is his claim to fame in the Indian Art arena?

3 comments:

wert said...

Ajanta caves in Maharashtra painted by Padmapani and Vajrapani

prashanth said...

depicted in ajanta cave paintings..

indian said...

gandhara art form is inspired.