CHENREZIG

The Tibetan form of Avalokiteshvara , the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Chenrezig is viewed as the founding father of the Tibetan people, and has had several manifestations among them. The most famous are King Songtsen Gampo who brought Buddhism to Tibet in the seventh century, and the Dalai Lama . His female aspect is Tara . The mantra associated with him (om mane padme hum) was the first to enter Tibet.