Ṣaḍakṣarī Lokeśvara

Artwork: Ujay Bajracharya
Photo Courtesy: Manish Joshi
Collection: Museum of Nepali Art (MoNA)

The calming serenade of the mantra Oṃ Maṇi Padme Hūṃ, an incantation that exhilarates mind and body. Many people are familiar with this mantra, which symbolizes a spiritual and collected version of self, whether consciously or unconsciously. This mantra resides in every fragment in a land like Nepal, which is guarded by majestic magical creatures and is home to Gods.

One can witness a variety of things in the lake, including fish, animals, and plants, as well as contamination and sludge. Even from the lake with the besmirching water, there can emerge a lotus, which is completely free of impurity. The origin of Ṣaḍakṣarī Lokeśvara is associated with a thousand-petaled lotus having a Maṇi Ratna at its crest. The seed syllable of the Maṇi Ratna is Hrī from which the Ṣaḍakṣarī Lokeśvara manifested. 

The root mantra of Ṣaḍakṣarī Lokeśvara is Oṃ Maṇi Padme Hūṃ. The mantra has multi-dimensional meaning and it is believed that solely chanting it will purify the mind and bring prosperity to beings. It is a rare occurrence to recite and receive this initiation of tremendous knowledge. The grandeur of this mantra is explained in Kāraṇḍavyūha-sūtra and Gunakāraṇḍabyūha-sūtra. It is the heart of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara practice. 

Ṣaḍakṣarī Lokeśvara is one of the 108 Lokeśvaras said to be guarding and harboring in the Valley. Lokeśvara is the compassionate one, existing to aid humanity and eradicate their suffering. Ṣaḍakṣarī Lokeśvara is generally affiliated with the Sangha Kul according to Mahāyana Dharma. Revered as Avivartika Bodhisattva, which classifies him as the one who has completed all the Bodhisattva Ideals (Bodhisattva Carya) and currently resides in the Akaniṣṭa Devlok. The Kul (root) deity of the Lokesvara is Amitabh Buddha, one of the Panca Buddha. The Lokeśvara has absolute great compassion, following the doctrine of serving and aiding every sentient being living in the six realms, six directions, and annihilating them from their sufferings to the path of enlightenment. This vow makes him Avalokiteśvara. 

Ṣaḍakṣarī Lokeśvara is graceful when embodying his iconographic form. He is white adorned and crowned with jewels, poised perfectly with legs locked closely. Lokesvara's compassion is evident in his eyes, looking down towards the realm of living beings. An antelope’s skin is wrapped over his left shoulder. He has four hands. With his principal hands, he has the kritāngali mudrā, joined together in the gesture of namaskār, prayer, or greeting. The upper right hand is in the vitarka mudrā, the gesture of reasoning, carrying prayer beads while the upper left hand holds a lotus. 

Published on Nepal Art Post October 2022