“自在观音”其实是观世音菩萨的通称。而通常所见的翘首搭足的自在观音应称为“水月观音”为宜。之所以称为自在观音乃是因为观世音菩萨神通变化自在，又因其于理事无碍之境观达自在，故云“观自在”，在佛典中常常是结跏趺坐的形象。而在当时常见的右腿抬起，跣足半跏趺坐，左手自然悬出轻搭膝面的观音形象称为“自在观音”乃是一种错误的称呼。故后来自在观音多称之为水月观音。

在佛传之初，水月观音不过是千手千眼观音在水中的幻像而已。随着唐后观音信仰的盛行，水月观音正式被列入三十三观音相之一，渐渐呈现出汉族女性的面貌，只是衣饰上仍保持着印度贵族袒胸着臂钏的特征。据说最早的汉化水月观音是由唐代周昉所作（他的传世作品代表作为《簪花仕女图》）。自宋以降，民间的水月观音信仰渐渐为白衣观音信仰取代，成为我们熟悉的送子、提篮、滴水、杨柳观音的形象，着带观音巾、身着汉式女装，和蔼亲切，成为完全女性化的佛教神祇。

Khasarpana, meaning 'sky flyer'(空行) in Sanskrit is also written in Tibetan language texts as Khasarpani. The term refers to several types of iconographic figures. The first type is a generic peaceful male subject with one face, two hands, white in colour, the right hand in a gesture of generosity, holding a lotus stem in the left hand. Often there is a seated Amitabha Buddha in the crown and a krishnasara deer skin over the left shoulder. The hand and arm positions can be varied and the sitting posture relaxed in a variety of postures.

Another common type of Khasarpana figure is similar to the description above but more exacting in the appearance and posture. This type is iconographic and specific in appearance based on Tantric literature. Khasarpana can be solitary or part of a five or thirteen deity configuration. The Tropu Lotsawa tradition depicts Khasarpani in the same appearance as Lokeshvara 'Resting in the Nature of Mind.'

“…[20] Khasarpani. Avalokiteshvara Khasarpani, with a body white in colour, one face and two hands, the right in supreme generosity [and] the left holding a lotus. With the hair adorned as a crown, the same ornaments and garments. Seated in the half [vajra] posture. At the right side is Green Tara, [with] the right in supreme generosity and the left holding an utpala [and] Yellow Manidharin holding a Dharma kapala with palms joined. At the left are Yellow Bhrikuti, [with] the right in supreme generosity and the left holding a three pointed stick [and] Red Hayagriva, in a manner of bowing with the right [hand], and the left holding a stick under the beard.” (By Ngorchen Konchog Lhundrub (1497-1557). Based on the Bari Gyatsa of Bari Lotsawa Rinchen Drag, 1040-1112 [P3731]).

自在观音普遍的形象为左手抚于莲坐上并置于左腿后方, 左腿水平置于莲座上, 左肩莲花盛开; 右腿抬起, 右手张开伸展并轻抚于右腿上. 这种造型与空行观音很相似, 最大的区别是空行观音的左手置于胸前; 而这种形象又与绿度母很难区分, 有时仅仅是胸部大小的区别. 而一足盘膝，一足下垂(至莲座下方)，很自在的形象, 本站归类为水月观音.

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