The Bodhisattva of Compassion – Avalokiteshvara
Four-Armed Chenrezig (Main figure)
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(Top to bottom): Buddha Shakyamuni, Maitreya, Manjushri, Four-Armed Chenrezig, Vajrapani, Six-Armed Mahakala and Dorje Shugden.
The thangka here depicts the “Three Protectors”, known in Tibetan as the Rigsum Gonpo. This enlightened trinity refers to Chenrezig or Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri and Vajrapani. They symbolically represent the compassion, wisdom and skilful means of all the Buddhas of all times (past, present, and future) respectively. They also represent the body, speech and mind of all the Buddhas. In Tibet, the great Buddhist King Songtsen Gampo was said to have constructed four temples dedicated to this sacred trinity around the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa. This bears testament to the importance of these three great enlightened beings who have emanated as Bodhisattvas since ancient times.
Chenrezig’s sacred name literally means the “All-Seeing Lord”. He is regarded as the embodiment of compassion and his divine presence is invoked through his well-known six syllable mantra, OM MANI PADME HUM. His most commonly depicted form has four arms that represent the “Four Immeasurables” of loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and perfect equanimity. With two of his hands folded at his heart, he holds a blue wish-granting gem, symbolising the great compassion of all Buddhas. With his other right hand, he holds aloft a mala of 108 beads, representing his ability to guide all beings on the path to liberation. With his other left hand he holds aloft the stem of an immaculate lotus, indicating that he is unstained by samsara and he has great compassion. Chenrezig’s practice is excellent for those who are angersome as his practice lessens anger and also for those who suffer from depression.
Manjushri, or Jampal Yang in Tibetan, literally means “Gentle-voiced” and he has the appearance of a youthful 16-year-old prince. He has long hair that is piled up into five topknots indicating the five types of wisdom he bestows. He holds aloft a fiery wisdom-sword that cuts through all obscurations. With his left hand he holds the stem of an immaculate lotus that supports a text on the “Perfection of Wisdom” in one hundred thousand stanzas that is symbolic of the highest form of wisdom – correct view of emptiness. Hence, by relying of Manjushri we are able to develop powerful memory, a flair for the arts, some measure of clairvoyance and deep insight into the Buddha’s teachings.
Vajrapani, known as Chagna Dorje in Tibetan, literally means ‘Holder of the Vajra’. He is wrathful and in the form of a yaksha being. With his right leg bent and left outstretched, he stands in pratyalidha posture. He holds a golden five-pointed vajra in his right hand, and with his left hand held in front of his heart he makes the threatening gesture at our delusions and negative karma. Vajrapani also is known as the Lord of Secrets and that means he bestows practitioners with a special aptitude to practice Tantra. He is also the Subduer of all Inner and Outer Maras. Inner maras are delusions and the self-grasping mind while outer maras refer to malevolent spirits and obstructing beings.
On top is Buddha Shakyamuni, the reigning Buddha of this time period, while Maitreya is the future Buddha to come. Six-Armed Mahakala is the direct emanation of Chenrezig and he is charged to protect the highest scope teachings of the Lam Rim while Dorje Shugden is said by many lamas like Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche to be the main protector of the Gelug teachings.
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Beautiful thangka of Four-Armed Chenrezig , Buddha Shakyamuni, Maitreya, Manjushri, Vajrapani, Six-Armed Mahakala and Dorje Shugden. Its depicts the “Three Protectors”, known in Tibetan as the Rigsum Gonpo. Wow …… They represent the compassion, wisdom and skilful means of all the Buddhas of all times (past, present, and future) respectively. Its paints a thousand words.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.