Introduction:
The Nīlakaṇṭha Dhāraṇī (नीलकण्ठ धारनी) also known as Mahā Karuṇā Dhāraṇī (महा करुणा धारनी), popularly known as the Great Compassion Mantra in English, Dàbēi Zhòu (Chinese: 大悲咒; pinyin: Dàbēi zhòu) in Mandarin Chinese and Chú đại bi in Vietnamese, is a dhāraṇī of Mahayana Buddhist origin. It was spoken by the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara before an assembly of Buddhas, bodhisattvas, devas and kings, according to the Mahakarunikacitta Sutra. Like the now popular six-syllable mantra "om mani padme hum", it is a popular mantra synonymous with Avalokiteśvara in East Asia. It is often used for protection or purification.