Padmapani mural of Ajanta captivated my boss. I could feel many times as I worked with him for my first three years. That might have pushed me to take the train and a car to Ajanta. We were searching for someone in a large complex. How would we feel if the person we’re searching for suddenly appeared before us? That’s how I felt, when I saw the popular Padmapani and Vajarapani murals in very first cave.
A Bodhisattva is a person who is on the way of attaining enlightenment to become Buddha. Compassion is his/her essence. Commitment to attain enlightenment to assist those who are in stress is his/her vow.
Avalokiteśvara, the lord who looks down, is a revered Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism. Known as Padmapani, he embodies infinite compassion. He is depicted in various forms across the cultures. I have seen at least two of them. Most of the Indian forms shows avalokiteśvara as male. In Southeast Asia, Avalokiteśvara is often depicted as the female Bodhisattva Guanyin. I used to highlight this similarities when I do my museum tours. I understand that Tibetans and Mongolians have their own counterparts.
The eyes of Padmapani painting looks extremely calm and soothes us. With a lotus flower in hand represents purity and abundant compassion. He is ready to delay his own enlightenment, to help others like us.
His Mantra Om Mani Padme Hum, symbolizes his compassionate nature and it is widely chanted for protection from suffering.
Kannadasan wrote கருணை தேடி அலையும் உயிர்கள் உருகும் வார்த்தை அம்மா ‘Mother, the word that melts souls wandering in search of compassion’. Kirupananda Variyar said in one his his speeches, ‘As god can not take care of every home, he sent a mother on his behalf’. Avalokiteśvara embodies compassion in all its forms, offered unconditionally and without expectation, much like a mother’s love for her child.
Reading recommendation:
- AJANTA CAVE PAINTINGS – the many-splendoured delights of Ajanta compiled by Subramanian Swaminathan
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