Avalokiteshvara — Bodhisattva of Compassion

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• Avalokiteshvara — The Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion
  **Avalokiteshvara** (अवलोकितेश्वर, 'Lord who looks upon all beings') is the **Bodhisattva of Compassion** in Mahayana Buddhism, revered as the embodiment of the Buddha's infinite compassion. In India he is known as **Lokeshvara** ('Lord of the World'), in China as **Guanyin** (觀音), and in Tibet as **Chenrezig**. According to Buddhist tradition, Avalokiteshvara made a powerful vow to respond to the cries of all beings in suffering: "When all beings in the six realms are suffering, how can I rest?" This compassion-driven activity led to the development of his **108 forms** across various Buddhist traditions. The most famous mantra associated with Avalokiteshvara is **"Om Mani Padme Hūṃ"** (O jewel in the lotus), which encapsulates the entire path to enlightenment. In Tibetan Buddhism, Avalokiteshvara is considered the patron deity of Tibet and is associated with the **Dalai Lama** as an emanation. **Chinese pilgrims** Faxian (5th century) and Xuanzang (7th century) both described Avalokiteshvara worship across India, noting the widespread devotion and the carving of mantras on stones. **Ibn Battuta** (14th century) observed similar practices in Himalayan regions. The **Bodhnath Stupa** in Kathmandu is the most important Avalokiteshvara pilgrimage site for Tibetan Buddhists, featuring the mantra "Om Mani Padme Hūṃ" on prayer wheels that pilgrims spin while circumambulating. The site was expanded in the 14th-15th century and became a major center for Tibetan Buddhist practice. In **Vajrayana Buddhism**, Avalokiteshvara is associated with the **Tara** emanations (Green Tara and White Tara as his aspects), and his practice involves visualization, mantra recitation, and meditation on compassion. The concept of **Chenrezig** in Tibetan Buddhism blends Avalokiteshvara with local Tibetan spiritual values. Today Avalokiteshvara is worshipped across all Mahayana traditions — Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Tibetan, Nepalese, and Vietnamese — making him one of the most widely venerated bodhisattvas in the world.
  — Buddhist tradition + Mahayana sutras + Tibetan Buddhist sources + scholarly sources