Buddhist Deity: Avalokiteshvara, Jinasagara (Rechung)
Jinasagara Masterworks
Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Description (below)
- Main Page
- Outline Page
- Rechungpa
- Confusions
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Video: Jinasagara Lokeshvara
The meditational deity Jinasagara Avalokiteshvara, Ocean of Conquerors (Tibetan: chen re zi gyal wa gya tso), originating in Tibet with Rechung Dorje Drag, is considered a special practice of the Karma Kagyu (Kamtsangpa) School of Tibetan Buddhism. Four authors stand out as significant later contributors to the tradition of both the Rechung and Mindrolling traditions of Jinasagara are several Shamarpa incarnations, especially (1) Konchog Yanlag, (2) Karma Chagme, (3) Minling Gyurme Dorje and (4) the 3rd Panchen Lama Palden Yeshe.
An early form of the practice popular with the Karma Kagyu, dates to the time of the 2nd Karmapa Karma Pakshi and lists the lineage teachers as: Dharmakaya Amitabha, Sambhogakaya Avalokiteshvara, Nirmanakaya Padmasambhava, Machig Drupa'i Gyalmo (Siddhirajni), Tebu Drime Shenyen, Rechung Dorje Drag, Lama Zangri Repa, Drogon Repa Chenpo, Gyalse Punya Vajra, Drupchen Karma Pakshi - the 2nd Karmapa, etc. The early forms of the deity are basically distinguished by (1) w/wo consort, (2) posture and (3) number of retinue figures in the mandala.
Iconographic Forms:
- Solitary, Red
- Five Deity Configuration
- Five Deity Mandala with Consort
- Nine Deity Mandala (seated with consort)
- Thirteen Deity Mandala
- Others...
The earliest know mandala painting is a 15th century Karma Kagyu depiction of the Thirteen Deity Jinasagara. Another 15th century painting of Avalokiteshvara with Eleven Faces and One Thousand Arms shows a detail image of a Three Deity Jinasagara with the deities Avalokiteshvara, Hayagriva and Guhya Jnana Dakini. Placed above the three deities is a small image of Padmasambhava.
The main deity is (1) Jinasagara, (2) Hayagriva, (3) Guhya Jnana Dakini, (4) Padmasambhava and (5) Bernagchen Mahakala who is generally depicted at the bottom center of a painted composition and the most commonly depicted in art. The Five Deity is the basic meditational form however there are many other forms of Jinasagara, along with mandalas of varying size and numbers of retinue figures.
Karma Kagyu Lineage: Dharmakaya Amitabha, Sambhogakaya Avalokiteshvara, Nirmanakaya Padmasambhava, Machig Drupa'i Gyalmo (Siddhirajni), Tebu Drime Shenyen, Rechung Dorje Drag, Lama Zangri Repa, Drogon Repa Chenpo, Gyalse Punya Vajra, Drupchen Karma Pakshi - the 2nd Karmapa, etc.
(See a depiction of the Five Deity Jinasagara as a detail in a painting of Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye, in a Vajradhara & Karma Kagyu Lineage composition and two paintings of the Eleven-faced Avalokiteshvara #58355, #852).
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Jeff Watt 2-2003 [updated 5-2017, 2-2025]
