Medicine Guru Buddha (Tibetan: sang gye men lha. Sanskrit: Bhaishajyaguru Vaiduryaprabha-raja): at the center is Medicine Buddha surrounded by the seven buddha brothers. Iconographically the Medicine Buddha has the typical appearance of a buddha but rather than golden skin has a blue colour. He holds in the right hand a myrobalan medicinal fruit and in the left supports a black begging bowl filled with healing nectar in the lap.

"...Bhagavan, Medicine Guru, with a body dark blue in colour, one face and two hands. The right hand is in the gesture of supreme generosity holding an arura, left in meditative equipoise holding a bowl of nectar; with splendid glorious marks and examples. Wearing the three religious robes; two feet seated in vajra posture." (Jamyang Kyentse Wangpo, 1820-1892).

At the top center is Shakyamuni Buddha. At the top left is Svaraghosharaja. At the top right is Ashokottamashri. At the middle left is Suparikirtitaraja. At the middle right is Suvarnabhadra Vimala. At the lower left is Dharmakirti Sagaraghosha. At the lower right is Abhijnaraja.

At the bottom center is Shadakshari Avalokiteshvara with two attendant figures sitting to the right and left. "The Six Letter Three [deity] Mandala: the Lord of the World with a body white in colour, one face and four hands. The first two hands are held at the heart with the palms together. The lower right holds a bead garland and the lower left a white lotus, the same ornaments and garments. Seated in the vajrasana [posture]. At the right is Manidharin and at the left is Shadakshari. Both are similar to the Lord in colour, ornaments and appearance." (Ngorchen Konchog Lhundrub, 1497-1557).

Each of the figures in the painting is labelled with a name inscription written in gold lettering below. The central inscription reads: "The Medicine Guru Buddha clearing the sickness of the three times."

First published in Mystic Art of Ancient Tibet by Blanche Christine Olschak in collaboration with Geshe Thupten Wangyal. Page 64. George Allen & Unwin Ltd.: 1973. Shambhala, Boston & London, 1987. Tibetan Painting, The Jucker Collection by Hugo E. Kreijger. No. 5, page 38-39. Shambhala, Boston: 2001. (List of image plates).

Jeff Watt 6-2000. Revised 6-2006