Lion turtle

"The true mind can weather all the lies and illusions without being lost. The true heart can touch the poison of hatred without being harmed. Since beginning-less time, darkness thrives in the void, but always yields to purifying light."

- The Lion Turtle

The Lion Turtle is a very large turtle with the head of a lion and lion-like, clawed feet. The Lion Turtles have existed since the world began and predate the Avatar. The Lion Turtle seen in the series is the last of his kind, as the rest were hunted and killed thousands of years ago. The Lion Turtle possesses timeless wisdom and powerful spiritual energy. Not all Avatars have met the Lion Turtle; Aang is the first in many ages.

Because he is so old and so massive, a large, overgrown forest has sprouted on the Lion Turtle's back. The Lion Turtle stays hidden from the world because, when submerged, he looks like an ordinary island.

They are possibly the original Energybenders, as shown when the Lion Turtle touches Aang's head with one claw and his heart with another and a green light illuminates them, thus granting Aang the ability to Energybend. Aang touched Ozai the same way before Energybending. Because the Lion Turtle is so old and it travels all over the world, it accumulates a number of smells, making it smell like the earth itself. This is why the Nyla was unable to find Aang while he was on the Lion Turtle- his scent was covered up by the Lion Turtle's, which is an all-present background smell.

History


The Lion Turtle was first seen in "Sozin's Comet, Part 1: The Phoenix King" as a small, dome-shaped island that appeared just off the coast of Ember Island at night. Aang, feeling conflicted over the seemingly impossible realization he must kill Ozai, sleepwalks there with Momo. By the following morning, the island is gone, and with it; Aang and Momo.

While the others are searching for him, Aang wakes up the next day to see that the island is now adrift in the middle of the sea. In the episode, "Sozin's Comet, Part 2: The Old Masters", after exploring a little, he finds himself at the top of the island, where he finds a hexagonal piece of a unknown material (part of the Lion Turtle's shell). He then decides to meditate there, and calls on his previous incarnations for guidance; starting with Roku, then Kyoshi, Kuruk and finally Yangchen. After listening to their advice, he realizes he has no choice but to kill Ozai.

Eventually, the island starts moving, and Aang jumps off it and dives below, where he discovers it is in fact a creature. After approaching the head, he realizes it is in fact a Lion Turtle.

Aang then asks the turtle for guidance, and the Lion Turtle says: "The true mind can weather all the lies and illusions without being lost. The true heart can touch the poison of hatred without being harmed. Since beginning-less time, darkness thrives in the void, but always yields to purifying light." He also teaches Aang Energybending after he imparts Aang with his wisdom. He then leaves Aang and Momo on the Earth Kingdom shore to wait for the Fire Nation Airship fleet and Phoenix King Ozai.

Connection
The Lion Turtle, as its name suggests, has the body of a turtle and the head and 'paws' of a lion. It appears to be able to communicate telepathically. It is also the largest animal in the Avatar universe, as Aang first mistakes it for an island and has a forest atop of its shell.

The Lion Turtle taught Aang energybending, an ability that now only Avatars can possess, though very few past Avatars have learned Energybending and used it. The wisdom of the four previous Avatars urged Aang to kill Ozai; only the wisdom of the Lion Turtle taught Aang the alternative way to defeat Ozai that he had been searching for.

Trivia

 * While appearing only during the season three finale, the Lion Turtle was referenced a few times:
 * It is seen in a scroll in Wan Shi Tong's Library.
 * A fountain at the Northern Air Temple had the shape of a Lion Turtle.
 * Piandao compares Sokka's courage and heart to a Lion Turtle. Also many Lion Turtle statues can be seen in his palace.
 * Another statue is featured at the opening of the unaired pilot when Aang is airbending.
 * Its face resembles the oni mask Zuko uses when in his guise of Blue Spirit.
 * The Lion Turtle in "Sozin's Comet, Part 2: The Old Masters" is voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson, who also voices Tyro.
 * The chanting that can be heard while when The Island/Lion Turtle calls to Aang, in Sozin's Comet, Part 1: The Phoenix King, causing him to sleepwalk/swim to him is a Buddhist chant, "Na Mo A Mi Tuo Fo Shin Di" (spellings vary). This chanting was first heard in "Winter Solstice Part 2: Avatar Roku" when the Firebenders were assuming their stances in front of the Door to the Fire Temple Sanctuary. It was heard again in "The Siege of the North, Part 2" right before Aang stepped into the Spirit Oasis to fuse with La. Na Mo A Mi Tuo Fo" (南無阿彌陀佛) is from Da Bei Chan Fa (大悲懺法), and translates as "Blessed be Amitabha Buddha".
 * A giant turtle-like being with an island (or the entire world) growing from his shell is quite popular in several mythologies.