Juichimen Senju Kannon

Juichimen Senju Kannon, the Eleven-Faced Thousand-Armed Kannon, is a composite manifestation of Kannon (Avalokiteshvara) venerated in Japanese Buddhism, combining the eleven-headed form associated with purification and the removal of obstacles with the thousand-armed form representing boundless compassionate aid to all beings. Temples and lineages devoted to this figure have historically associated it with rites of purification and exorcism, and in some folk traditions it has been invoked in connection with safe childbirth and fertility, though such associations vary by region and temple. As with many esoteric Buddhist images, the many faces and arms are traditionally interpreted as symbols of Kannon's capacity to perceive suffering in all directions and respond with countless forms of aid.