Drawing on Owens’ article ““Human Agency and Divine Power: Transforming Images and Recreating Gods among the Newar,” on the documentary “On the Road with the Red God Machhendranath,” and on the other readings listed below,
explain how the Bodhisattva deity Karunamaya is on the one hand dependent upon human agents, and how, on the other hand, these agents and mankind at large are at the mercy of the great god of compassion, i.e. Karunamaya. Provide concrete examples drawing on both rituals and the legendary narratives provided for the Karunamaya images.
Vaidya, Karunakar. Buddhist Traditions and Culture of the Kathmandu Valley (Nepal). Kathmandu: Shajha Prakashan, 1986: chapter 31: “Aryavalokiteswara Cult” (pp. 259-271).
McCoy Owens, Bruce: “Human Agency and Divine Power: Transforming Images and Recreating Gods among the Newar,” History of Religions, vol. 34,3 (1995), pp. 201-240.
von Rospatt, Alexander “Remarks on the Consecration Ceremony in Kuladatta’s Kriyāsaṃgrahapañjikā and its Development in Newar Buddhism.” Hindu and Buddhist Initiations in Nepal and India,edited by Astrid Zotter and Christof Zotter. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2010, pp. 199-262:“Overview of the consecration ceremony” ( pp. 201-205).
In addition to the readings please watch the documentary On the Road with the Red God Machhendranath by Kesang Tseten.
*Please make sure to use ALLthe sources