Amoghapasha Lokeshvara – The eight-armed form of Avalokiteshvara

This article is about Amoghapasha Lokeshvara – The eight-armed form of Avalokiteshvara, His iconography, His Dharani and peculiarity of His Dharani.

In my previous article, I discussed Avalokiteshvara, the most revered deity in the Buddhist pantheon. I mentioned that Avalokiteshvara appears in numerous forms and styles. The upcoming series of articles will explore several of these manifestations.

In Nepal, hymns mention as many as three hundred and sixty forms of Avalokiteshvara, yet only one hundred and eight forms are there in pictures with iconographic details.

Amoghapasha Lokeshvara is a manifestation of Avalokiteshvara that wields Amoghapasha, an unfailing noose, in His right hand. He employs this noose to save sentient beings who stray from the path of enlightenment. He leads individuals to sever the bonds of illusion, guiding them on the path of truth, thereby aiding them in attaining enlightenment.

Iconography of Amoghapasha Lokeshvara

Amoghapasha Lokeshvara has one face and three eyes, each eye vigilantly overseeing the three worlds. He is white in color and adorns a saffron garment. In this representation of Avalokiteshvara, he possesses eight arms, although the only verified image available to me shows him with just four arms.

Amoghapasha Lokeshvara has one face and three eyes, each eye vigilantly overseeing the three worlds. He is white in color and adorns saffron garment. In this representation, he possesses eight arms, although the only verified image available to me shows him with just four arms.

The hand gestures and the objects held by Amoghapasha Lokeshvara in His eight hands carry profound meanings.

His first right hand, displaying the Abhaya-mudra, signifies Amoghapasha Lokeshvara’s protection for those who earnestly observe the Astami-Vrata, preventing them from descending into lower realms.

His second right hand, in the Varada-mudra, indicates that individuals who cultivate compassion and Bodhicitta will receive all desirable outcomes.

The Amoghapasha in His third right hand symbolizes His unfailing ability to guide ignorant beings onto the path of Dharma and towards the ultimate liberation.

In His fourth right hand, He holds a rosary, signifying that the recitation of Avalokiteshvara’s six-syllable mantra liberates one from the cycles of samsara.

In His first left hand, He holds a kamandal (water-pot), symbolizing Amoghapasha Lokeshvara’s ability to initiate all sentient beings into Buddhahood.

The Lotus in His second left hand represents His power to liberate sentient beings from the hell realm, rescuing them from extreme heat and cold, just as the lotus emerges from muddy waters.

His third left hand wields a trident, signifying His purification of the world’s three poisons: lust, ill-will, and ignorance.

In His fourth left hand, He carries scriptures, denoting His impartation of wisdom to devotees, guiding them towards liberation from the cycle of existence.

Popularity of Amoghapasha Lokeshvara

The worship of Amoghapasha Lokeshvara has been prevalent in Nepal since the Middle Ages. Newar Buddhists frequently conduct Avalokiteshvara sadhana rituals on half-moon and full-moon days, known as Uposatha Vrat or Ashtami Vrata. Of these, the Amoghapasha Lokeshvara Vrata is particularly popular. Amoghapasha Lokeshvara’s popularity extends beyond Nepal to Java, Japan, and China, countries where Mahayana Buddhism has spread.

Doctrine of Amoghapasha Lokeshvara

Ninety-nine eons ago, Avalokiteshvara was bestowed with the “Amoghpasha Hrdya Nama Dharani Sutra” by Lokeshvaraja in the realm of Lokavalokana. Ever since, he has utilized this Dharani to enlighten innumerable sentient beings. He is Amoghapasha Lokeshvara as He manifests a transformed body (Nirmanakaya) and employs this Dharani to guide sentient beings.

The Specialty of Amoghapasha Lokeshvara’s Dharani

The unique aspect of this Dharani is that it cleanses the sin of slandering the venerable Bhikshu-sangha, Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas, as such acts could lead to rebirth in lower realms like the Avici Hell. The purification process is most potent when an individual confesses their transgressions, undertakes the Uposatha Vrat of Amoghapasha Lokeshvara, upholds the eight precepts, and recites this Dharani numerous times.

Those who correctly recite this Dharani seven times on the eighth day of the lunar calendar will receive twenty other meritorious qualities, such as freedom from diseases, prosperity, popularity, joyfulness, equanimity, a kind heart, protection from evils, freedom from fears, and more.

Earliest representation of Amoghapasha Lokeshvara

The images of Amoghapasha Lokeshvara in its earliest form are in the Arty Amoghapasha Sutras in the Kaisar library of Kathmandu.

References

Buddhist Deities and Masters – An introduction by Chandra B Sakya

The iconography of Nepalese Buddhism by Min Bahadur Shakya

The Indian Buddhist Iconography by Benoytosh Bhattacharyya

For more information, please watch the video below

Series Navigation

<< Avalokiteśvara – the Bodhisattva of compassion