4-Armed Avalokiteshvara/Chenrezig Old- Oil Varnished Tibetan Thangka Painting/ Original hand-painted Buddhist art with Silk Brocade

This original hand-painted Tibetan Thangka painting depicts Chenrezig or Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva. It is an old oil varnished Thangka with oil applied to protect the old painting. Chenrezig is considered the most revered of all Bodhisattvas in Buddhism. He embodies the compassion of all Buddhas and is known to listen to the prayers of all sentient beings in times of difficulty and challenges.

According to a prominent Buddhist story, Chenrezig vowed never to rest until he helped free all sentient beings from samsara, the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. However, despite his best efforts, his task could be more manageable. To reach out to the many cries of suffering, his arms are shattered into pieces, making them numerous to better reach out to those in need. Sometimes, Chenrezig is depicted with eleven heads and a thousand arms fanned around him, symbolizing his ability to aid all beings.

Tibetan Buddhism associates Chenrezig with the six-syllable mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum." When this mantra is pronounced aloud or in silence, it invokes his benevolent power and intervention. Chenrezig is considered the patron of Tibet, and the living Buddha, the Dalai Lama, is believed to be his incarnation.

This Thangka painting portrays Chenrezig in a holy gesture with his two front hands clasped in front of his jewel-draped heart. His upper right-hand holds his special symbol, a crystal akshamala or rosary, a symbol of the never-ending cycle. His left-hand holds a white lotus, symbolizing that he frees sentient beings from the muddy waters of suffering and hellish realms to the pure states of enlightenment. He is draped in silk garments, seated on a row of lotus petals, and in the "diamond pose" of meditation, with both legs crossed.

The term "Bodhisattva" means "enlightenment ('bodhi') being ('sattva')" in Sanskrit and has two primary meanings in Buddhism. One of them, held by the Theravada and some Mahayanists, refers to someone dedicated to becoming a Buddha. The other, held by some Mahayanists, refers to someone who deliberately refrains from becoming enlightened, a Buddha, to help others.

Whenever we are compassionate or feel the love of another directed towards us, be they human or animal, we experience a taste of our connection with Chenrezig.

Size with the Brocade: 28 x 34 Inch ( 72 x 91 cm)
Size of the painting: 11 x 14 Inch ( 28 x 36 cm)
Material: Cotton Canvas
Color: Natural, Stone Color
Frame: Traditional silk

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