Sṛṣṭikartā Lokeśvara

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Sṛṣṭikartā Lokeśvara [alt. Śṛṣṭikānta-Lokeśvara] (English: "Creator Avalokitesvara"). A form of Avalokitesvara in which Avalokitesvara appears as Sṛṣṭikartā ("creator") and emanates, for the benefit of sentient beings, all the Vedic gods from his body.[1]

This form of Avalokitesvara is derived from the Kāraṇḍavyūha, where Buddha Shakyamuni descibes to the assembly the way in which Avalokiteshvara emanated various Vedic gods. Here Avalokiteshvara assumes the form similar to that of the Vedic Purush and produces all the deities from his body. Thus, he takes on the form of the creator i.e Sṛṣṭikartā.[1]

This form of Avalokitesvara is worshiped in Newar tradition of Nepal.[2][3]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Srishtikarta Lokeshvara, Virtual Vinodh
  2. ↑ Bühnemann, G. (2012). Śiva and Avalokiteśvara: On the iconography and date of the Golden Window and Golden Door of Patan’s Royal Palace. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, 75(2), 337–359. doi:10.1017/S0041977X1200050X
  3. ↑ Avalokita, Shristhikantha (Red, Standing), Himalayan Art Resources

Sources