These are beings who have reached the state of enlightenment but vow to save everyone else in the world before they themselves enter Nirvana. Un like Buddhas they are often shown decorated with crowns and jewels.

Avalokiteshvara (Chenresig)

'Glorious gentle one' - he is the Bodhisattva of Compassion and his name means 'he who gazes upon the world with suffering in his eyes". The Dalai Lama is considered a reincarnation of Avalotiteshvara. The current Dalai Lama is the 74th manitestation of Avalokiteshvara. His body is white and he sits on a lotus blossom. He holds rosary beads and a flower of compassion and clutches a gem to his heart. A deer skin is draped over his left shoulder. There is also a powerful 11 headed, 1000 armed version. His head is said to have exploded when confronted with a myriad of problems to solve. One of his heads is that of wrathful Vajrapani and another (the top one) is of Amitabha, who is said to have reassembled Avalokiteshvara's body after it exploded. Each of the 1000 arms has an eye in the palm. His eight main arms hold a bow and arrow, lotus, rosary, vase, wheel and staff.

Manjushri (Jampelyang)

The BodhisaTTva of Wisdom, is regarded as the first divine teacher of Buddhist doctrine. School children often offer prayers to him. His right hand holds the flaming sword of awareness which cuts through ignorance. His left arm cradles a scripture on a half-opened lotus blossom and his left hand is in the 'teaching' mudra. He is often yellow and may have blue hair or an elaborate crown.

Tara (Droelma)

“The Saviouress" - a female bodhisattva with 21 different manifestations or aspects. She was born from a tear of compassion that fell from Avalokiteshvara's eyes and is thus considered the female version of Avalokiteshvara and a protectress of the Tibetan people. She also symbolises purity and fertility and is believed to be able to fulfil wishes. Images      usually represent Green Tara, who is associated with night, or White Tara, who is associated with day. The green version sits in a half-lotus position with her right leg down, resting on a lotus flower. The white version sits in the full lotus position and has seven eyes, including ones in her forehead, both palms and both soles of her feet. She is often seen as part of a longevity triad, along with red Amitayus and three-faced, eight-armed female Vijaya.