Avalokiteshvara is the Bodhisattva of the Great Compassion, excepted by all Buddhist traditions and famously known as Kuan Yin [a feminine form] by the Chinese. His vast vows is to deliver all sentient beings from falling into evil states and lead them towards salvation or enlightenment. He is mostly represented by the seed mantra OM MANI PADME HUM ["Hail the jewel in the lotus!"].

Moving in all realms of existence, he tirelessly relieving beings from suffering. In Jewel Casket Array Sutra [Karandavyuha], he descended into the dark hells of Lord Yama and emits jets of magical water from the fingers of his thousands arms, to wipe out the burning flames of molten iron and with His great compassion, elevate beings into higher states of existence, like the human and devas worlds.

Horim Museum
Metal Art Gallery

Mandala of the Benefactor
Protective Deities
Mirrors of The Heart-Mind
Online Exhibitions of the Huntington Archive, Ohio State University






Avalokitésvara (Guanyin), the Bodhisattva of Mercy