Description

Amoghapāśa (Avalokiteśvara Bodhisatta with the Unfailing Rope) is one of the popular esoteric forms of Avalokiteśvara, who protects all sentient, living beings by means of his rope of compassion and has their wishes fulfilled. Amoghapāśa owes his existence to the rise of the Diamond Vehicle (vajrayāna) in India and is mentioned in various works of esoteric Buddhism. Though the initiation of this Bodhisatta in East Asia remains unclear, but the examination of Amoghapāśa images suggests that the cult of Amoghapāśa in East Asia arose in the late seventh to eighth centuries. It was widespread at Dunhuang, Sichuan, Java, Sumatra, Bali, Japan and received impetus from the Himalayan tradition as well as local adaptations. The oppression associated with the revival of Hinduism followed by the Muslim invasion during the 12th Century C.E. had resulted in extinction of Amoghapāśa cult from India.