A six-armed form of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara

Here the compassionate Avalokiteshvara, whose forms can have two, four, six, eight, or even more arms, is shown with six arms holding such auspicious emblems as a rosary, a book, and a lotus.

Characteristically, Avalokiteshvara has an image of the Buddha Amitabha (of whom he is a spiritual emanation) as an identifying symbol at the front of his hairdress. Here, Avalokiteshvara is flanked by goddesses. At his feet crouches a needle-nosed, starving ghost, whom Avalokiteshvara assists by letting him drink the nectar dripping from his hand.