Sahashrabhuj Lokesvar, A Thousand Armed Buddhist Deity

Prazol Maharjan | YouTube: Prazol Maharjan | Follow: Instagram | jhigunepa@gmail.com

Giant statue of Sahshrabhuj Lokesvar, 18th Handicraft Trade Fair at Hyatt. Nov 20, 2021

Let's Understand What is Lokesvar 

Lokesvar is one of the most revered deities in Buddhism, they are the highest form of Bodhisattva one could attain. The word 'Lokesvar' in Sanskrit means, one who looks down upon the entire realm.  Lokesvar is also referred to as 'Karunamaya' (करुणामय), in Newari Buddhism . The world, Karunamaya, translates as full of compassion. They embody compassion of all the Buddhas and the principal attendant of Amitabha Buddha. They are popularly referred as Bodhisattvas. They are the enlightened beings who, out of compassion, chose to postpone their own entry into Nirvana in order to assist all sentient beings in achieving moksha (liberation). They commit themselves in working hard for the benefit of others until all beings are freed from suffering. Here are the four prime Lokesvars that resides in Kathmandu Valley and are highly revered by the Newa Buddhists. 

From Left to right: Aryaavalokitesvar (जनबहा:द्य:),  Aanandadi Lokesvar (चोबाहा:द्य: ), Sristikanta Lokesvar (नाला करुणामय), Padhmapani Lokesvar (बुङ्गद्य)

Sahashrabhuj Lokesvar

In Sanskrit, the world Sahashra means one thousand, and Bhuj refers to the hands. One thousand Armed Lokvesvar is one of the many forms of Avalokitesvara comprising 108 depicted in the Kanak Chaitya Mahavihar of Kathmandu. He is also known as son of the Amitabha Buddha (one of the five Dhyani Buddhas). It is said that Avalokitesvara vowed before Amitabha Buddha to liberate all sentient beings from the three realms of Samsara and becoming their ultimate guide. 

There by he ventures into Hell, Ghost, Human, Asur and God realms to liberate the sentient beings from the suffering and fulfilled his commitments. As he did that, he saw once again that more sentient beings in sorrow, an unending cycle of sorrow, causing his determination to waver. Realizing the daunting task, he has undertaken, a never-ending phenomenon. His enlightened thought (Bodhicitta) decreased in the moment and he lost his courage. Instantly, his head and body shattered into thousands pieces, embodying profound sorrow. 

Soon after, Amitabha Buddha appears for his protection and restores the Avalokitesvara back to his original form. He says, “You have undertaken such a noble task, do not doubt yourself, do not undermine your courage. You deserve the praise from all the Buddhas, I will help you on this journey." Thereby he restores his broken heads into eleven faces and he sat upon those heads and restores his broken body into one thousand hands with the eyes in each palm of the hands, the eyes of the one thousand Buddhas who will appear in this eon. This forms the Sahasrabhuj Lokesvar that is highly revered by all the Buddhists today. Upon this transformative experience, Avalokitesvara appeared in diverse forms to liberate suffering sentient beings, achieving numerous successful accomplishments.  

Among his eleven heads, the uppermost head is of his father, Amitabha Buddha and the one immediately below, is his wrathful appearance. The eyes in the palm of each hands, represents a thousand ways he can see and act to liberate all sentient beings from suffering.

Handcrafted statue of Sahashrabhuj Lokesvar, made in Nepal

Unlike the other deities,  Avalokitesvars are always seen standing. It is to represent that one who has undertaken a huge responsibility to liberate every sentient beings from this samsara. He, simply cannot rest. If he does so, he'd be behind to fulfill the responsibilities he has undertaken.

Updated: 8/8/2023

References:

• Buddhist Practitioner, Dr. Kabindra Bajracharya, MD MA. Pediatric Ophthalmologist, Lumbini Eye Institute
• Sahashrabhuja Lokesshvara - One Thousand Armed Lokeshvara, http://www.shakyastatues.com/statue/sahasrabhujalokeshvara
• Prakash Man Sakwo, Archaeologist / Historian, Sakwo (Sankhu)
• https://www.aziatischekunst.com/blog/lokeshwor-the-lord-of-all-realms#
• Alok Siddhi Tuladhar, a documentarian from Kathmandu, Nepal