When a Powerful Lion Submits to a Gentle Kuan yin

I was wandering thru some shops today while looking for some props for my work, and i came across this statue. At first glance I thought, wow thats an interesting Manjushri Statue... as I looked closely, it was actually Kuan Yin on a Lion! I was stricken with a WOW! feeling :)

Kuan Yin in this form is said to be a powerful healer of Skin, cancers and Bone diseases. She holds a lotus stalk in each hand on top of which sits a flaming sword of wisdom and on the left lotus is a trident. The left hand is stretched palms faces downwards, for all her faithfuls it symbolises closing the doors of rebirth into the 3 lower realms, And the right leg extends symbolising her ever readiness to rescue all beings in despair. In the crown area is an image of a wish fulfilling jewel, which represents Kuan Yin's Guru yidam deity, Buddha Amitabha. This symbolises, that Guru Devotion practice is the highest practice to bring quickest liberation to any beings willing to take the challenge.

Kuan Yin sits on a Lion representing great charisma of a Lion'sRoar. As she teaches doctrines of Virtue and Compassion all negative ways are washed away. Just like in the forest, when the King of The Jungle, The Lion, Roars - all lesser creatures take heed with full alertness. Also it represents Protection from the 4 types of Fears. Most of all, the mounts of the deities usually tell us what this deity can help transform in ourselves, in this form the Lion is also said to symbolise Pride and Arrogance, the lion knows he is powerful, strong and can mow down almost any creature he encounters, but he willingly submits himself to be a carriage for the Divine Kuan Yin Pusa. Kuan Yin here therefore, is said to subdue negative pride and arrogance to bring about a gentle, peaceful and humble nature.

On the artistic aspect, I like the crown ornament Kuan Yin has on, its in the style of the earlier Indian iconographic styles which gives a feeling of Antiquity.I hope people who read this get the same if not better "Wow" feeling likeI did when I first saw it and remembered its significance.

Om mani Padme Hum