Lapis Lazuli Kwan Yin (9414)

Kwan Yin is known as the Goddess of Mercy or the Goddess of Compassion. She is accepted as being an incarnation of the bodhissatva Avalokiteshvara and prior to the Song Dynasty she was depicted male. Later to this she began to take on attributes of both male and female and from around the 12th century she has been widely represented as a beautiful white robed Goddess. She is linked with the divine Mother aspect of all traditions, with Mother Mary in Christianity, Isis in Egypt, Shakti in Hinduism, Tara in Tibet and Kannon in Japan. She is the patron of mothers and seaman and represents sustenance, fertility, the end of all suffering and kindness. Her name Kwan Yin is short for Kwan Shih Yin and means 'observing the sounds of the world' or 'she who listens to the cries of the world'. It is Kwan Yin who hears the cries of humanity and there are many legends surrounding her. One is the legend of Miao Shih, who was the daughter of a cruel father. The father became so ill that the only medicine that could cure him was the arm and eye of one who was pure of spirit and withour anger. Miao Shih offered her arms and eyes to cure her father and when her father found out it was his own daughter who gave him the cure, he instantly begged forgiveness. Miao Shih was thus transformed into the Thousand Armed Kwan Yin, the Mother Goddess of Compassion. Kwan Yin carries a small vase containing the Water of Life which blesses all with physical and spiritual peace, she is also revered for being the bestower of children and usually carries a sheaf of ripe rice or rice seed representing this fertitlity and sustenance. She is also often seen riding a dragon, an ancient symbol of higher spirituality, transformation, wisdom and strength. Kwan yin is sometimes shown with her two attendants or with children and in this role she is often refferred to as the 'White Robed Honoured one'. Any one who chants her name or the the mantra of compassion OM Mani Padme Om is instantly connected to Kwan Yin who will hear their cries.

This hand carved Lapis Lazuli Kwan Yin measures 3" x 1"