Avalokiteshvara
Also called: Padmapani, Lokeshvara · Topic: Buddhism, Jainism and Heterodox Traditions · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Avalokiteshvara is the Bodhisattva of compassion in Mahayana Buddhism. A Bodhisattva is a being who delays his own nibbāna to help others. Avalokiteshvara is often shown holding a lotus, and in this form he is called Padmapani ("lotus in hand"). He is one of the most widely worshipped Buddhist figures across Asia.
Example
A famous wall painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is in Ajanta Cave 1, in Maharashtra, from c. 5th century CE. In Tibetan Buddhism, each Dalai Lama is believed to be a rebirth of Avalokiteshvara.
Don't confuse with
- Maitreya: Maitreya is the Bodhisattva who will become the future Buddha. He usually holds a water pot, not a lotus.
Related concepts
- Mahayana
- Hinayana
- Bodhisattva
- Maitreya
- Tara
- Vajrayana Buddhism
- Nagarjuna
- Madhyamaka
- Yogachara
- Vasubandhu