Padmapani is a form of Avalokiteshvara. Padmapani Lokeshvara is generally seen standing at the right side of Amitabha Buddha in Sukhavati Heaven. Padmapani Lokeshvara is depicted red in color. Padmapani Lokeshvara holds a lotus flower in his left hand and shows varada mudra with his right hand. Padmapani Lokeshvara wears an antilope skin on the shoulders. Padmapani Lokeshvara wears a crown and his hair is bound to form a top knot. Sometimes it is eclipsed by an effigy of Amitabha Buddha. When there is no effigy of Amitabha Buddha in the crown of Padmapani he is then white in color. A legend says that once an elephant was going to pick up a lotus flower in a pond. Unfortunately he slipped into the mud. He cried in agony and prayed for Narayana. In the mean time Arya Avalokiteshvara was in that jungle and he heard the prayer. Immediately he took the form of Narayana and rescued the elephant. from the marshy pond. Then Avalokiteshvara took the lotus offered by the elephant and went to Jetavana grove where Shakyamuni Buddha was residing. He in turn offered this lotus flower to Shakyamuni Buddha. Shakyamuni Buddha thanked Avalokiteshvara for his offer of lotus flower and requested him to offer it to Lord Amitabha on his behalf. Avalokiteshvara tole the whole story to Lord Amitabha Buddha. Appreciating the philanthropic deeds of Avalokiteshvara, Amitabha Buddha told him to keep that lotus flower forever and continue the act of benefitting all sentient beings. Later on Avalokiteshvara was known as Padmapani Lokeshvara. In Kathmandu valley numurious images of Padmapani Lokeshvara are found. Padmapani Lokeshvara found in Shreegha vihara in Kathmandu is believed to be of the fifth century of Christian era. According to Hem Raj Shakya 202 images of Padmapani Lokeshvara carved in stones are found in Patan city anlone dating as early as Lichchavi period.