The Compassionate Goddess

This is a picture i drew for my cousin's wife. It's my rendition of a female buddha, known as Avalokitesvara or Tara (Tibet); Miao Shan or Guan Yin or Kuan Yin or Kwan Yin or Quan Yin (China); Kannon (Japan). She is known as the merciful goddess. The story is that she was a princess who gave up her rank and riches to live in a convent (or whatever) and acchieved enlightenment. As her spirit was floating up to Nirvana, she heard the cries of someone in need and she turned from the gate and vowed to stay on earth to help people reach enlightenment. She is an approachable goddess, whom anyone can worship.

She is the embodiment of grace, beauty, and compassion. She is to the "east" what Mary, virgin mother of Jesus, is to the "west". It is estimated that about 1/3 of the world's population pray to her on a regular basis.

I have no idea why i drew her, but i did. She's pretty. She's usually depicted with a sprig of something in her hand, or a bottle...but i ditched those.