1000 Armed Avalokiteshvara – Bodhisattva of Boundless Compassion
Gold Avalokiteshvara Thangka: Avalokiteshvara, Sahasrabhuja Ekadasamukha (Tibetan: Chen Re Zig, Chag Tong Shal Chu Chig and English: The All Seeing Lord with One Thousand Arms and Eleven Heads) is the Bodhisattva of compassion, the embodiment of the universal compassion of all enlightened beings. Avalokiteshvara in this form is peaceful in appearance, with eleven heads, one thousand hands and in standing posture. The ten heads of his emanations of the ten directions and the face of his root Guru Buddha Amitabha – indicating that he benefits living beings through his countless emanations. His thousand arms indicate that he is the synthesis of the thousand Buddhas of this Fortunate Eon, and the eye in the palm of each hand indicate that he watches over and cares for infinite living beings.
The multiple heads reflect different aspects of Avalokiteshvara – three calm, three angry, and at the top that of Amitabha Buddha, with whom Avalokiteshvara is associated. The heads symbolize his ability to counter evil powers with kindness. The first then heads represent the ten directions (the four cardinal and four inter-cardinal directions, the center, above and below) The thousand arms surround the figure in a halo, and usually each hand has an eye in the center. In this form, the Bodhisattva sees in all directions and can therefore relieve all beings’ suffering. Protective deities and lamas (a monk of great learning) from the Gelug (Yellow Hat) sect surround him. By practicing Avalokiteshvara we naturally increase our own compassion.
Gesture and Attributes
1000 Armed Avalokiteshvara is depicted in white color and has eleven heads, 1000 Arms and 1000 eyes which are shown on the palms of the Avalokiteshvara standing with feet joined together like shown in this Gold Avalokiteshvara Thangka. His eleven heads are in five rows each of which are on the top of each other; in the first row; the main face is which is in the center is in white in color, right face is in green color and the left face is in red color. In the second row; the central face is in green color, the right face is in red color and the left face is in white. In the third row; the central face is in red color, right face is in white color and the left face is in green color. In the fourth row; a wrathful face with bared fangs with three eyes and tawny, upward-streaming locks in black or dark blue color and the in the fifth row; a peaceful face in red color with an usnisa, having the appearance of a celibate and endowed with a neck. The first pair of hands are at the heart, with palms folded. The second right holds a rosary, the third eliminates the hunger and thirst of pretas, and the fourth holds a wheel. The second left holds a lotus, the third a water-pot, and the fourth a bow and arrow. The other 992 hands are boon-granting. In the palms of every hand there is a peaceful eye. A deerskin covers his left breast and the lower part of his body is covered with fine stuffs. He is beautiful with disordered tawny locks, crowned with Amitabha, and adorned with all kinds of jewel ornaments.
