Item: Padmasambhava - 8 Forms: Pema Gyalpo

Pema Gyalpo Padmasambhava (Tibetan: pe ma gyal po, pe ma jung ne, English: Lotus King, Lotus Born): from the set of Eight Manifestations of Padmasambhava.

In royal attire with long flowing garments of various colours, a headdress of silk, long sleeves and shoes, he holds up in the right hand a double sided drum (Sanskrit: damaru) and in the left held to the side a gold mirror. Adorned with a crown of gold, earrings and necklace he is seated in the relaxed posture of 'royal ease' atop an ornate throne with the left leg drawn up and the right extended resting on a lotus cushion supported by a single lion. Wishing jewels and precious objects are arranged in front. At the left side, two senior dignitaries richly clad in fine clothes, offer ceremonially a long white scarf.

At the top center is the buddha of this age, Shakyamuni; at the left the buddha of the previous age, Dipamkara, with the right hand performing the mudra of blessing at the heart and the left placed in the lap. On the right is the future Buddha Maitreya with both hands held at the heart.

At the bottom left is Guru Nyima Ozer in the appearance of an Indian yogi, holding a katvanga staff in the right hand and emanating forth rays of the sun with the index finger of the left. Attired in an upper robe of human skin and a red meditation belt, he wears a tiger skin as a lower robe, seated in a relaxed posture. At the right is the wrathful Dorje Drollo, maroon in colour with one face and two hands holding a vajra and kila. Wearing elaborate robes he rides on the back of a tigress.

Padma Raja represents the period of time when Padmasambhava remained for 5 years as the royal prince of Oddiyana after being born on a lotus blossom and adopted by King Indrabhuti.

Jeff Watt 1-99