Goddess Kuan Yin: the Embodiment of Compassion
Kuan Yin (Main figure)
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(Top to bottom): Kuan Yin, Wei Tuo and Dorje Shugden.
Deity: Kuan Yin (Chinese)
Alternative names: Avalokiteshvara (Sanskrit); Chenrezig (Tibetan)
Kuan Yin is a popular archetypal Bodhisattva in the Sutras, in which she strives towards complete enlightenment. She is famously considered one of the Eight Great Bodhisattva Disciples of Buddha Shakyamuni. Kuan Yin’s practice is excellent for those who are angersome as her blessings lessen anger and also for those who suffer from depression. Appearing in India as a male, in China she transformed into a female over the centuries. Her origins seem to derive from the legend of the 7th Century Princess Miao Shan, who is widely believed to have been an emanation of Avalokiteshvara.
Deity: Wei Tou (Chinese)
Alternative name: Skanda (Sanskrit)
Wei Tou is regarded as a Dharma Protector particularly within the Chinese Mahayana tradition. He is known as “Hufa Weituo Zuntian Pusa”, meaning “Honoured Dharma Protector Skanda Bodhisattva” in the Golden Light Sutra. Furthermore, he is said to be the leader of the twenty-four celestial guardian deities. According to traditional accounts, Skanda was the son of a virtuous king who had deep faith in the Buddha’s teachings. Just before the Buddha passed into parinirvana, he requested Skanda to protect his teachings, known as the Buddhadharma. It was said that Wei Tuo fought with demons who attempted to steal the Buddha’s relics after the Buddha’s parinirvana. Wei Tou is said to protect the Sangha and especially propitiated to resolve conflicts within the monastery. That is why he is traditionally placed facing the Buddha in the main shrine of Chinese temples and sometimes, on the right side of temple shrines while Sangharama or Guan You is placed on the left. His image also adorns the end of Sutras commemorating his vow to protect the Buddhadharma.
Deity: Dorje Shugden (Tibetan)
Alternative name: Vajra Bhagawan Rudra (Sanskrit)
Dorje Shugden is an emanation of the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri. He took the form of a Dharma protector in order to safeguard the Buddha’s teachings, especially the important teachings on the Middle Way view. Reminiscent of Manjushri’s form, Dorje Shugden carries a meandering sword and rides a snowlion that represents the fearlessness of a fully enlightened Buddha. Furthermore, he carries a jewel-spitting mongoose and a vajra hook to symbolise that he has the tremendous ability to bestow wealth and resources. He has great strength to overcome obstacles of the body, speech and mind, and create suitable conditions for our spiritual practice to flourish.
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For more interesting information:
- The Dorje Shugden category on the blog
- Must Watch: Powerful Explanations on Dharma Protectors
- Black Tara – The Wrathful Protectress
- Mahasiddha Tilopa – the Chakrasamvara Master
- Guhya Manjushri – the Secret Form of Wisdom
- Five Extraordinary Visions of Lama Tsongkhapa
- The Mahasiddha Kukkuripa and His Dog
- Lords of Purification – 35 Confessional Buddhas
- Manjushri Nagarakshasa – The Naga Deity
- Janguli – The Goddess that Protects from Snakes
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She is a deity wellknown with her quality of compassion. Since my childhood, people would love to bring their child to worship her and adopt her as godmother, I have no exception too.
She is one of the Eight Great Bodhisattva Disciples of Buddha Shakyamuni, very enlightened. Her loving and kindness touches thousand of people, we see her mantra OM MANI PADME HUM everywhere. She heals angersome and care for those who has depression.
Kuan Yin is the archetyphal Bodhisattva of Compassion. Indeed she is considered one of the Eight Great Bodhisattva Disciples of Buddha Shakyamuni. She is a female Buddha in the Chinese Mahayana pantheon of Buddhas and her origin is very much interwoven into the legend of the 7th Century Princess Miao Shan, who is widely believed to have been an emanation of Avalokiteshvara. Her practice is good for healing and lessening anger and for depression. In actual fact, she is the most popular deity among Chinese Malaysian Mahayana Buddhists. Many a household carry a statue or image of her.
Her miracles and miraculous appearances have caused many devotees to develop great faith in her. Her three feast days of the year are remembered and celebrated by these devotees.
Her mantra of Compassion -Om Mani Padme Hum – is among the most commonly recited mantras!
Along with Kuan Yin in this lovely thangka, is featured Wei Tou, a Dharma Protector of the Chinese Mahayana Buddhist tradition.
Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden , emanation of Buddha of Wisdom, is also featured in this lovely thangka. He arose to safeguard the Buddha’s teachings, especially the important teachings on the Middle Way view.
What a beautiful thangka indeed!
Kuan Yin is one of the major deities in Buddhism and one of the most popular deities. Also known as the Goddess of Mercy and Compassion . Kuan Yin is regarded as male in India, and slowly transformed to have a female image in China. She is known for her kindness and can also be regarded as an icon of femininity in modern Buddhism. In this beautiful thangka Kuan Yin is depicted with Wei Tuo who is the great Dharma Protector in Buddhism who protects the Dharma, the teachings of the Buddha and those who cultivate the Dharma. Together with Dorje Shugden also a Dharma protector in order to safeguard the Buddha’s teachings. Dorje Shugden who is an emanation of the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri as depicted makes a powerful thangka to have.