Here the compassionate Avalokiteshvara, whose forms can have two, four, six, eight, or even more arms, is shown with six arms holding such auspicious emblems as a rosary, a book, and a lotus.
Characteristically, Avalokiteshvara has an image of the Buddha Amitabha (of whom he is a spiritual emanation) as an identifying symbol at the front of his hairdress. Here, Avalokiteshvara is flanked by goddesses. At his feet crouches a needle-nosed, starving ghost, whom Avalokiteshvara assists by letting him drink the nectar dripping from his hand.