Avalokiteśvara

Avalokiteśvara
Avalokiteśvara
	Sculpture of Avalokiteśvara holding a lotus (padma). Nālandā, Bihar, India, 9th century CE.
Sanskrit	अवलोकितस्वर; IAST: Avalokitasvara; अवलोकितेश्वर; IAST: Avalokiteśvara;
Burmese	ကွမ်ယင်၊လောကနတ်; IPA: [kwàɴ jɪ̀ɴ];
Chinese	观世音, 觀世音; Pinyin: Guānshìyīn; 观音, 觀音; Pinyin: Guānyīn; 观自在, 觀自在; Pinyin: Guānzìzài;
Japanese	観自在; Romaji: Kanjizai; 観音; Romaji: Kannon; 観世音; Romaji: Kanzeon;
Khmer	អវលោកេស្វរៈ; ALA-LC: ʾavalokesvarà; អវលោកិតេស្វរៈ; ALA-LC: ʾavalokitesvarà; លោកេស្វរៈ; ALA-LC: Lokesvarà;
Korean	관음; RR: Gwaneum; 관자재; RR: Gwanjajae; 관세음; RR: Gwanseeum;
Mongolian	Жанрайсаг; ALA-LC: Chanraysagu;
Russian	Авалокитешвара; ALA-LC: Avalokiteshvara;
Thai	อวโลกิเตศวร; RTGS: Avalokitesuan; กวนอิม; RTGS: Kuan Im;
Tibetan	སྤྱན་རས་གཟིགས THL: Chenrézik;
Vietnamese	Quan Âm, Quán Thế Âm, Quán Tự Tại
Information
Venerated by	Buddhism, Chinese folk religion, Taoism
Attributes	Great Compassion
	Buddhism portal

In Buddhism, Avalokiteśvara (meaning "the lord who looks down",^[1] IPA: /ˌʌvəloʊkɪˈteɪʃvərə/^[2]), also known as Lokeśvara ("Lord of the World") and Chenrezig (in Tibetan), is a tenth-level bodhisattva associated with great compassion (mahakaruṇā). He is often associated with infinite light Amitabha Buddha.^[3] Avalokiteśvara has numerous Great 108 manifestations and is depicted in various forms and styles. In some texts, he is even considered to be the source and divine creator of all Hindu deities (such as Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma, Saraswati, Bhudevi, Varuna, etc).^[4]

While Avalokiteśvara was depicted as male in India, in East Asian Buddhism, Avalokiteśvara is most often depicted as a female figure known as Guanyin (in Chinese). In Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, he is known as Kannon, Gwaneum, and Quan Âm, respectively.^[5] Guanyin is also an important figure in other East Asian religions, particularly Chinese folk religion and Daoism.

Avalokiteśvara is also known for his popular mantra, Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ, which is the most popular mantra in Tibetan Buddhism.^[6]

^ Gour, H. S. (1929). The Spirit Of Buddhism Vol. 1. p. 10.
^ "Avalokitesvara". Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.
^ Ellwood, Robert S. (2008). The Encyclopedia of World Religions. Facts on file. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-4381-1038-7.
^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Leighton, Taigen Dan (1998). Bodhisattva Archetypes: Classic Buddhist Guides to Awakening and Their Modern Expression. New York: Penguin Arkana. pp. 158–205. ISBN 0140195564. OCLC 37211178.
^ Studholme, Alexander (2002). The Origins of Om Manipadme Hum: A Study of the Karandavyuha Sutra. State University of New York Press. p. 2.

[1] Gour, H. S. (1929). The Spirit Of Buddhism Vol. 1. p. 10.

[2] "Avalokitesvara". Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.

[3] Ellwood, Robert S. (2008). The Encyclopedia of World Religions. Facts on file. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-4381-1038-7.

[:3-4] Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[leighton-5] Leighton, Taigen Dan (1998). Bodhisattva Archetypes: Classic Buddhist Guides to Awakening and Their Modern Expression. New York: Penguin Arkana. pp. 158–205. ISBN 0140195564. OCLC 37211178.

[6] Studholme, Alexander (2002). The Origins of Om Manipadme Hum: A Study of the Karandavyuha Sutra. State University of New York Press. p. 2.

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