Buddhist Deity: Avalokiteshvara, Jinasagara, Main Page

Jinasagara Masterworks

Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Description (below)
- Outline Page
- Traditions:
--- Rechung Tradition
--- Mitra Yogin Tradition
--- Mindrolling Tradition
--- Others...
- Avalokiteshvara Iconography
- Confusions: Amitayus with consort, Pema Lingpa Tradition
- Others...

Videos:
- Jinasagara Lokeshvara
- All Lokeshvara Videos

From among the many different forms of Avalokiteshvara as a Tantric Deity, the form known as Jinasagara 'Ocean of Conquerors' (Tibetan: chen re zi gyal wa gya tso. Sanskrit: Jinasagara Avalokiteshvara) also has many iconographic appearances. From the three common traditions of Rechung, Mitra and Mindrolling, that of Rechung is most likely the earlies in chronological order. Rechungpa, the famous student of Milarepa, returned from India with a number of different versions of Jinasagara. There are three main characteristics or features that distinguish the different forms of Jinasagara. First, Jinasagara is either in a (1) solitary appearance or he is embracing a consort, and second, (2) posture, he is either standing or seated, and then third (3) relates to the number of retinue figures that are depicted in the mandala. (See Jinasagara Outline Page).

Depending on the various lineages and traditions of practice, new and old, there can be minor differences in the hand objects of both Jinasagara and the consort. The number of arms depicted for the consort may either be two or four. Many of these slight differences are related to the late 'terma' discoveries in the Nyingma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism in the last three hundred years. The early forms of the deity are basically distinguished by (1) consort, (2) posture and (3) number of retinue figures in the mandala.

Iconographic Forms:
- Solitary, White
- Solitary, Red
- Jinasagara & Guhya Jnana Dakini
- Jinasagara & Guhya Jnana Dakini (Tangyur Tradition)
- Five Deity
- Five Deity Mandala with Consort
- Nine Deity Mandala (seated with consort)
- Nine Deity Mandala (standing with consort)
- Thirteen Deity Mandala
- Others...

In the 17th century the Mindrolling Tradition of the Nyingma popularized a form of Jinasagara known as the Minling De Kun which resembles the Rechung iconographic appearance the closest. In the later part of the century Lelung Zhepa'i Dorje popularized an entire cycle of meditations and teachings focusing exclusively on the female consort deity Guhyajnana Dakini. A beautiful painting from this Lelung tradition is known to exist in a museum in Poland.

Four authors stand out as significant contributors to the tradition of Jinasagara, especially for the Rechung and Mindrolling traditions, they are - several Shamarpa incarnations, especially (1) Konchog Yanlag, (2) Karma Chagme, (3) Minling Gyurme Dorje and (4) the 3rd Panchen Lama Palden Yeshe.

Database Search: All images

Jeff Watt 8-2014 [updated 3-2019, 2-2020, 2-2025]