The Lion’s Roar of Compassion
Avalokiteshvara Simhananda (Main figure)
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(Top to bottom): Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol, Migchey Chenrezig, Avalokiteshvara Simhananda and Dorje Shugden.
Deity: Avalokiteshvara Simhananda (Sanskrit)
Alternative name: Chenrezig Sengetra (Tibetan)
Avalokiteshvara is a popular archetypal bodhisattva in the Sutras, in which he strives towards enlightenment. Within the teachings of Vajrayana Buddhism, Avalokiteshvara is said to be a Buddha who attained full enlightenment during a previous aeon, only to manifest as a bodhisattva on the spiritual path to inspire and bless many in our current aeon. Within the Sutras and Tantras, Avalokiteshvara is known by many names including Lokeshvara, Avalokita, Lokanatha and Mahakarunika. He is famously considered one of the Eight Great Bodhisattva Disciples of Buddha Shakyamuni and for his landmark sermon at the behest of Buddha Shakyamuni, as narrated in the Heart Sutra.
The Sanskrit honorific ‘arya’ meaning ‘noble’ or ‘noble one’ is often used at the beginning of the name for each of the Eight Great Bodhisattvas as well as notable enlightened beings such as Tara. Arya Avalokiteshvara, known as Chenrezig in Tibet, is the patron Bodhisattva of Tibet and is still widely revered and worshipped throughout the Mahayana Buddhist world. Within Tibetan Buddhism, there are many lineages of various forms of Avalokiteshvara that span all four classes of Tantra alongside numerous other oral traditions and terma (treasure teaching) traditions that have arisen within the Nyingma order.
Amongst the great Indian and Tibetan masters who proliferated the practice of Avalokiteshvara are Jowo Atisha, Bari Lotsawa, Mitra Yogin, Machig Labdron, Kyergangpa, Tsembupa, and so forth. It is said that the Indian master Jowo Atisha promoted the practice of Avalokiteshvara as one of the most important and thus, the deity is widely practised as one of the Four Deities of the Kadampa order which arose from Jowo Atisha’s teachings. In fact, Avalokiteshvara is also linked to the creation myth of the Tibetan people. He is said to have emanated as a monkey and mated with a demoness who is said to have been an emanation of Tara. Their offspring became the Tibetan race.
There are four popular forms of Avalokiteshvara that are more commonly practised than others and they are Sahasrabhuja, Amoghapasha, Chaturbhuja and Simhananda. The practice of Avalokiteshvara Simhananda is one of Thirteen Golden Dharmas of the Sakya tradition. It is regarded as an important practice within the order and descends down through great masters such as Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092-1158 CE). The practice originated in India, from ancient masters such as Chandragomin and Suvarnadvipa. It then entered Tibet in the 11th Century through the efforts of Rinchen Zangpo, Jowo Atisha, Bari Lotsawa Rinchen Drag and others. This practice is now found in all traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.
Historically, Avalokiteshvara Simhananda was also proliferated in Mongolia and China by Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen (1182-1251 CE) after he healed Goden Khan of leprosy using the special healing rituals of the deity. Avalokiteshvara Simhananda is propitiated particularly in rituals to appease nagas, serpentine-like beings who are depicted in the image as making offerings to Avalokiteshvara. Therefore rituals and pujas associated with Avalokiteshvara Simhananda have a healing effect on those with skin conditions like leprosy, cancer and other related illnesses which are commonly believed to be caused by nagas. Furthermore, these rituals are also used in the offering of torma (ritual cakes) and incense to appease nagas as they are partial towards the great compassion of Avalokiteshvara.
Deity: Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol (Tibetan)
The name ‘Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol’ literally means ‘Avalokiteshvara Who Liberates From the Three Lower Realms’. This practice derives from a lineage that stems from the Mahasiddha Mitrayogin and comprises of a trinity of deities with Avalokiteshvara in the central position, sitting in a posture of royal ease with his left hand pressed down behind him on his moon disc. Green Tara sits to his left and the wrathful black Ekajati on his right. His practice is one that protects practitioners from taking rebirth in the lower realms for one lifetime as long as they maintain their commitments. Usually, the commitments involve a daily recitation of one mala (rosary) of OM MANI PEME HUNG. Alternatively, it involves whatever sadhana or mantra commitment is stipulated by the lama at the time of initiation into the practice.
Deity: Chenrezig Migchey (Tibetan)
‘Chenrezig Migchey’ literally means ‘Eye-Clearing Avalokiteshvara’ and this lineage arose from a Hidden Treasure (terma) teaching of the Nyingma order. It was originally revealed by Nyangral Nyima Ozer in the 12th Century. However, many masters from the Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug orders have since composed their own ritual and sadhana liturgies dedicated to this form of Chenrezig. Within Tibet, this practice was widely disseminated throughout Southern Tibet and from there it spread to Mongolia. In fact, one of the largest statues of this deity lies in Ganden Monastery of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. It is said that the popularity of this practice in 20th Century Mongolia was due to the teachings of His Holiness the 8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu, who was the third most important personage in Tibetan Buddhism below only the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama. This form of Chenrezig is said to remove ignorance and bestow the direct perception of emptiness (shunyata). On an ordinary level, this deity is very beneficial in relieving ailments of the eye.
Deity: Dorje Shugden (Tibetan)
Alternative name: Vajra Rudra (Sanskrit)
Dorje Shugden is a Dharma Protector that has been propitiated by all four major Tibetan Buddhist schools. Dorje Shugden is recognised to be an emanation of Manjushri, the Buddha of Wisdom. In fact, Dorje Shugden arose from a long line of incarnated lamas who strove to proliferate and protect the teachings. He is a protector of recent origins, arising 350 years ago, and due to his strong affinity with beings of this time, he is widely renowned to be efficacious and powerful in overcoming our obstacles and creating favourable conditions for our practice.
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Beautiful thangka of Avalokiteshvara Simhananda with Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol, Migchey Chenrezig, and Dorje Shugden. Avalokiteshvara is beloved throughout the Buddhist world. The practice of Avalokiteshvara been practised by both great Indian and Tibetan masters. The rituals and pujas related with Avalokiteshvara Simhananda has benefited many people who has skin conditions like leprosy, cancer and other related illnesses which are commonly believed to be caused by nagas.
Thank you Rinpoche for this brief sharing of Avalokiteshvara Simhananda.
In powerful naga pujas , we invoke the compassionate Avalokiteshvara Simhananda, the embodiment of compassion, to appease the nagas who are partial towards Avalokiteshvara’s compassion.By thus appeasing the nagas,through the invoking of this compassionate Buddha, naga-related diseases, particularly skin diease are healed. How powerful is the compassion of Avalokiteshvara!
They are all different in their ways.
Avalokiteshvara Simhananda. A form of Avalokiteshvara connected with removing illness caused by nagas. Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen was very kind to spread this practice to Mongolia and China. Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen healed Goden Khan of leprosy using the special healing rituals of this deity. ?
I’ve lost track of how many emanations of Chenrezig has but his compassion knows no bounds.
The Buddha of Compassion has many forms. Avalokiteshvara Simhananda (Sanskrit) is to cure naga related diseases and purify negative emotions as a result of non virtuous karmic activities and deeds. During the time of the great Mongol Empire, the Emperor Goden Khan fell ill from Naga disease. Sakya Pandita, one of the founding Master of the Sakya, and who was also the spiritual adviser. Sakya Pandita then performed the Simhananda Puja with great effect curing the Emperor. From that time onwards, Sakya Pandita was well respected by all.