莲花手观音(Padmapani), 通常一面二手, 左手持莲花, 是最早的观音形象, 起源于2世纪的印度. 莲花被视为众生本有的清净菩提心, 含苞未开的莲花比喻众生未显露的佛性; 半开的莲花比喻众生发起了菩提心; 已开的莲花比如菩提心显现.

Padmapani (lotus holder) is a Sanskrit term referring to Lokeshvara, the bodhisattva, having one face and two hands. The left hand holds the stem of a blossoming lotus flower. The textual inspiration for the imagery of Lokeshvara in this appearance are the Sutras of the Mahayana(大乘佛教) tradition of Buddhism. Padmapani is also used as a synonym for Lokeshvara. The term is commonly found as an epithet(表示性质、特征等的词语), as well as a descriptive term, referring to the lotus held in the left hand. It has yet to be shown or proven textually that there is any specific and unique form of Lokeshvara accepted across the Indian Buddhist cultural sphere that is described in early literature as a Padmapani Avalokiteshvara.

观音菩萨

不空羂索观音典型形像为，首戴化佛宝冠，一面四臂，面目熙怡。左右上手执莲花瓶、把数珠，下手施无畏印。或为一面三目，执莲花、三叉戟、把羂索、 施无畏印。披鹿皮衣结跏趺坐，璎珞珠钏庄严诸天衣。诸变化身有三面十八臂、三面六臂、一面四臂等。今传世诸像以三面六臂为多。敦煌壁绢画中也有不少作品， 而日本所传多以一面八臂为标准。