The History of Buddhist Thought c22.s1.9

c22.s1.9

More probably it is constructed like the rest on the model of the Hindu spells.¹ Avalokiteśvara is represented with a lotus in his hand. Maṇipadma as an epithet does not appear to be applied to him, but he has epithets like *padmapāṇi* “having a lotus in his hand”, *padmadhara* “bearing a lotus”, and *śubhapadmahasta* “having a fair lotus in his hand”. It is not certain, however, that the spell was originally connected with Avalokiteśvara. The “six-syllabled spell” is mentioned in *Divyāvadāna* (613), and probably refers to this spell. But there is no mention there of Avalokiteśvara. Also in the *Lotus*, although there is much about Avalokiteśvara and spells, there is no mention of this one.