Dharmapala Thangka CentreTibetan Antiques

This Tsa Tsa it shows the fourarmed Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara Lokeshvar [Tibetan: spyan ras gzigs, སྤྱན་རས་གཟིགས] sitting on a double lotus throne.

Avalokiteshvara Lokeshvar is also called the Great Conduct Bodhisattva, a name that reflects his practice of Buddhism through his famous Ten Great Vows. The six Tibetan syllables at the top are the Mantra of compassion "Om Mani Padme Hum" [jewel in the lotus], which belongs to Avalokiteshvara. Probably the most famous mantra of Buddhism is 'Om Mani Padme Hum', the six syllable mantra of Avalokiteshvara.

This mantra is particularly associated with the four-armed Shadakshari form of Avalokiteshvara. The Dalai Lama is said to be an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, and so the mantra is especially revered by his devotees.