Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Padmasambhava - (Pandita Form)

པད་མ་འབྱུང་གནས། 莲花生大士
(item no. 12)
Origin Location Bhutan
Date Range 1700 - 1799
Lineages Nyingma
Size 91.44x61.60cm (36x24.25in)
Material Ground Mineral Pigment, Fine Gold Line on Cotton
Collection Rubin Museum of Art
Catalogue # acc.# P1994.8.1
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Appearance: Monastic

Gender: Male

Summary: Padmasambhava can appear both as a human and as a deity.

Interpretation / Description

Padmasambhava (8th century). Wearing the robes of a monk, he holds upraised in the right hand a blue vaidurya 'terma' treasure casket. This painting belongs to a nine painting set depicting the eight manifestations of Padmasambhava. (See Inverted Painting Experiment).

At the top center is Jigme Lingpa (1730-1798). At the right and left, flying in the air, are Nanam Yeshe De and Namkai Nyingpo. At the bottom left is Karchen Palgyi Wangchug and to the right Sogpo Lhapal. These last four belong to the group of 25 Great Disciples of Padmasambhava. The building at the viewer's upper right is representing the first monastery of Tibet, Samye Chokor Ling. This composition is based on a famous Bhutanese set of paintings depicting the life story of Padmasambhava based on the Padma Katang text and commissioned by the 4th Desi, Gyalse Tendzin Rabgye.

Jeff Watt 9-2000

See a comparison with HAR #203634.

See the publication The Living Religions & Cultural Traditions of Bhutan, page 60-61. National Commision for Cultural Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan. Published by National Museum, Janpath, New Delhi, 2001. ISBN 81-85832-16-1.

Secondary Images
Related Items
Exhibition Appearances
Exhibition: Padmasambhava, the Second Buddha

Thematic Sets
Collection of RMA Masterworks Main Page
Painting: The Four Ground Colors of Himalayan Art (Tricycle)
Subject: Masterworks (Persons, 人物)
Collection of RMA: Painting Masterworks Page
Collection of RMA: Persons Masterworks
Collection of RMA: Bhutan Masterworks
Padmasambhava: Painting Styles
Comparison: Padmasambhava (RMA 12)
Tradition: Nyingma Teachers (Paintings)
Padmasambhava: Art History
Painting Type: Coloured Ground
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art: Bhutan
HAR: Utilities Page
Tradition: Nyingma - Principal Iconographic Themes
Padmasambhava: Eight Forms (Painting & Sculpture Sets)
Padmasambhava: Eight Forms Main Page
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art: Painting Gallery 5
Region: Bhutan, Padmasambhava
Collection of RMA: Best of Collection 2
Painting Style: Ground Colours (Four Types)
Padmasambhava: Painting Masterworks
Region: Bhutan: Painting & Textile Masterworks