Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Padmasambhava - (Life Story)

པད་མ་འབྱུང་གནས། 莲花生大士
(item no. 8263)
Origin Location China
Date Range 1960 -
Lineages Nyingma and Buddhist
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Private
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Interpretation / Description

Padmasambhava depicted in a narrative scene with small children against a countryside background. Scenes such as this are typically inspired from the various versions of the life story of Padmasambhava.

Considered principal 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 Oral (Kama) Tradition of the Nyingma School, Padmasambhava was born in Northern India as the son of a king, or minister. In the Treasure (Terma) Tradition he was born on a lotus in Dhanakosha lake in the kingdom of Orgyan (Uddiyana, Urgyan) as an emanation of Amitabha Buddha.

"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).

Jeff Watt 11-2018

Secondary Images
Related Items
Thematic Sets
Padmasambhava: Religious Context
Contemporary: Traditional Main Page
Contemporary: Traditional (Masterworks)
Padmasambhava Main Page
Padmasambhava: Life Story Main Page
Tradition: Nyingma Masterworks
Padmasambhava: Painting Styles
Subject: Deities Wearing Boots & Shoes
Padmasambhava: Painting Masterworks
Padmasambhava: Standing Figures