Avalokiteśvara

In Buddhism, Avalokiteśvara is a very important Bodhisattva known for great kindness and compassion. The name means "the Lord who looks down," and Avalokiteśvara is also called Lokeśvara or Chenrezig in Tibetan. This Bodhisattva appears in many different forms and styles in Buddhist traditions around the world. In some stories, Avalokiteśvara is even seen as the source of many Hindu gods like Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma.

In East Asian countries, Avalokiteśvara is known by many names such as Guanyin in Chinese, Kannon in Japanese, Gwaneum in Korean, and Quan Âm in Vietnamese. In these cultures, Avalokiteśvara is sometimes shown as a divine mother wearing a white robe, and people worship this form in many religions including Taoism and Chinese folk religion.

Avalokiteśvara is also famous for a special chant called the Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ mantra, which is very popular in Tibetan Buddhism. This Bodhisattva is loved and respected by many people for showing deep compassion and helping those in need.

Etymology

The name Avalokiteśvara means "lord who gazed down (at the world)". It combines words that mean "down", "look", and "lord". In early translations into Chinese, it was called Guānzìzài, but later became known as Guanyin. This change happened because early translators thought the name meant "who looked down upon sound", like the cries of people needing help.

In Tibetan, Avalokiteśvara is called Chenrézig, which means "one who always looks upon all beings with compassion". The name shows how Avalokiteśvara is seen in Buddhism as a kind and caring helper.

Origin

Mahayana account

The Lotus Sutra tells the story of Avalokiteśvara, a kind and caring spirit who listens to the cries of people in need and helps them. This chapter describes 33 different forms of Avalokiteśvara, including some that look like women, to connect with people from all backgrounds. It is often read in Buddhist temples in East Asia.

Ancient travelers like Faxian and Xuanzang wrote about people honoring Avalokiteśvara with gifts and worship. In Chinese Buddhism, special practices focus on a form of Avalokiteśvara called Cundī, which many people loved and followed.

In Chinese Buddhism, six special forms of Avalokiteśvara help people overcome different challenges in life. According to some Buddhist teachings, Avalokiteśvara was once a Buddha who chose to appear as a helper to guide others toward peace and happiness.

Avalokiteśvara is one of the four important helpers of Buddha and works closely with Amitabha Buddha to share teachings about a peaceful place called the Pure Land.

Theravāda account

Today, many people in Sri Lanka still honor Avalokiteśvara, calling him Natha-deva. In Myanmar, he is known as Lokanat, and in Thailand, he is Lokesvara. In different places, he has many names: in Tibet, Chenrezig; in China, Guanyin; in Japan, Kannon; in Korea, Gwaneum; and in Vietnam, Quan Am.

Modern scholarship

Scholars wonder where the idea of Avalokiteśvara came from. Some think he might be connected to Hindu gods like Shiva or Vishnu. Others believe he grew from a mix of local Tamil traditions and Buddhism in South India, especially around a sacred mountain called Potigai.

Manifestations

Avalokiteśvara has many different forms and shapes. Some of these forms are wisdom goddesses that are closely linked to him in stories and pictures.

Two important female Buddhist goddesses, Cundī and Tara, are also thought to be connected to Avalokiteśvara.

According to a Buddhist teaching called the Śūraṅgama Sūtra, Avalokiteśvara understood Buddhism perfectly and could appear in countless ways, sometimes with many heads, arms, and eyes.

One well-known story tells how Avalokiteśvara promised to help all living beings find peace. He worked very hard but still saw so many people in pain. His head split into pieces from trying to understand everyone, so the Buddha Amitābha gave him eleven heads to hear all the cries for help. Later, his arms also broke from trying to reach everyone, so Amitābha gave him a thousand arms to help all those who needed it. This form, with a thousand arms, is very popular in places like China, Japan, and Korea.

In some Buddhist teachings, many Hindu gods and goddesses are thought to come from Avalokiteśvara. For example, gods like Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma, and Saraswati are described as coming from different parts of Avalokiteśvara’s body. These stories show how Avalokiteśvara appears in many ways to guide people toward becoming Buddhas, though he is not described as creating the whole world.

Mantras and Dharanis

There are many special prayers and chants called mantras and dharanis connected to Avalokiteśvara.

Mani mantra

In Tibetan Buddhism, a very important prayer is the six-word mantra Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ (Sanskrit: ॐ मणि पद्मे हूँ), also called the Mani mantra. Because of this mantra, one form of Avalokiteśvara is named Ṣaḍākṣarī ("Lord of the Six Syllables") in Sanskrit. People in East Asian countries also use this mantra, especially in Chinese Buddhism. There are some different versions of the Mani mantra, like Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ hrīḥ. The word Hrīḥ relates to the Buddha of the Lotus family, Amitabha.

Saying this mantra while using prayer beads is a common religious activity in Tibetan Buddhism. Another practice is spinning prayer wheels, which have many copies of this mantra and help everyone nearby.

Ārolik mantra

Another mantra for Avalokiteśvara used in East Asian Buddhism is "oṃ ārolik svāha". In Chinese Buddhism, this mantra helps clear away bad actions and is said every day in monasteries. In Shingon Buddhism, this is the main mantra for Avalokiteśvara and also connects to the Lotus Buddha family.

Dharanis

The Kāraṇḍavyūha Sūtra also introduces a special chant called the dhāraṇī of Cundī. After using the mantra "oṃ maṇipadme hūṃ", a bodhisattva hears many buddhas saying the Cundī Dhāraṇī together.

The Nīlakaṇṭha Dhāraṇī is another well-known chant for Avalokiteśvara with 82 words. It is very popular in East Asian Buddhism. There is also a dhāraṇī linked to Avalokiteśvara’s form with eleven faces, called the Eleven-Faced Avalokitesvara Heart Dharani.

East Asian chants and phrases

In East Asian Buddhism, Avalokiteśvara is often shown as a kind woman named Guanyin wearing white clothes. A common phrase that people chant is:

There are also longer prayers called "White Robe Avalokitesvara" sutras or mantras. One famous one is the "Divine White-robed Avalokiteśvara Mantra" from about the 11th century:

Another chant linked to Guanyin’s help with babies and birth is called the "Dharani Sutra of White-Robed Guanyin's Heart of Five Seals".

In Japanese Buddhism, a well-known longer prayer to Kannon (Guanyin) is the jikku kan'on gyō (十句觀音經), the "10 Verse Kannon Sutra":

Tibetan Buddhist beliefs

Avalokiteśvara is a very important figure in Tibetan Buddhism. In the special teachings called Vajrayana, Avalokiteśvara is seen as a Buddha.

In Tibetan stories, the goddess Tãrã appeared when a tear from Avalokiteśvara fell to the ground and formed a lake. From this lake grew a lotus that opened to show Tara. Another story says Tara came from Avalokiteśvara’s heart. Both stories show how Avalokiteśvara’s deep kindness created Tara.

Some special leaders, like the Dalai Lamas and the Karmapas, are thought by many Tibetan Buddhists to be forms of Avalokiteśvara. These leaders are called tulku.

Iconography

Deer-skin (tinasara)

In some Tibetan art, Avalokiteśvara, also called Chenrezig, is shown wearing a deer-skin over his left shoulder. This deer-skin represents giving up comfort to show deep care and focus during quiet times of thinking and prayer.

The idea comes from an old story where the bodhisattva was once a golden deer who could talk like a person. He saved someone from drowning in water. Later, when a king wanted to hunt him, he offered himself to protect his friends. This act of kindness moved the king to stop all hunting, showing how compassion can change rules and help everyone.