The Eight Fears Represented in Art

The eight fears are a common theme represented in Himalayan and Tibetan Buddhist art. The fears are generally associated with Avalokiteshvara, Amoghapasha and Tara. Protection from the fears can be represented by a single deity figure with eight hands, or a central deity accompanied by eight retinue figures each protecting from one of the eight fears. In the case of the Eleven Faced Avalokiteshvara of the Atisha Tradition the attendant deities are all wrathful in appearance.