Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Padmasambhava - (Pandita Form)

པད་མ་འབྱུང་གནས། 莲花生大士
(item no. 65803)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1700 - 1799
Lineages Karma (Kagyu) and Buddhist
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Rubin Museum of Art
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, Guru Rinpoche (Tibetan: pe ma jung ne. English: Lotus Born): one of the three principal founders of Buddhism in Tibet. (See Padmasambhava Life-story Painting).

Pemasambhava Pema Jungne Biographical Details

"Miraculous buddha arising from a lotus, unborn, undying, possessing a vajra body, performing the activity of all buddhas of the three times; homage to Padmasambhava." (Nyingma liturgical verse).

Amongst Tibetans, the most popular among the many teachers to bring Buddhism to Tibet in the 8th century, Padmasambhava has numerous forms representing outer, inner and secret aspects. Within the Kama (Oral) Tradition of the Nyingmapa School, Padmasambhava was born in Northern India as the son of a king or minister. In the Terma (Treasure) Tradition he was born on a lotus in the middle of Dhanakosha lake as an emanation of the Buddha Amitabha.

Jeff Watt 12-2007

Front of Painting
English Translation of Inscription: No inscriptions.

Reverse of Painting
English Translation of Inscription: No inscriptions.

Secondary Images
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