Nyingma Tradition Main Page
Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Description (below)
- Yantra
- Samantabhadri
- Guhyagarbha Tantra
- Vajradhara Buddha Comparison
- Buddha Main Page
- Masterworks
- Confusions: Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, Tapihritsa, Kuntu Zangpo (Bon)
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Videos:
- Samantabhadra Buddha
- Kuntu Zangpo Confusions
- Vajradhara & Samantabhadra Comparison
Iconographic Forms:
- Naked, solitary
- Naked, with Consort
- Solitary, with Ornaments
- With Consort & Ornaments
- Others...
The Primordial Buddha, representing the Dharmakaya (truth body of enlightenment) according to the Nyingma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.
Sanskrit: Samantabhadra Tibetan: Kun tu zang po
Samantabhadra Buddha arises from the early Nyingma Tantric literature of the Guhyagarbha Tantra and others. He is typically blue-black in colour, naked, having Buddha Appearance (although not typical), with the hands in meditation gesture and the legs in vajra posture. He embraces the consort Samantabhadri. She is light coloured and also naked. In some textual traditions the two are depicted with clothing and jewelry.
A second way that Samantabhadra can be depicted is as the group of Five Buddhas of the Guhyagarbha Tantra. The five are the same Five Buddhas of the 'New' Tantra Traditions however there are slight variations in the details of their appearance, colour, gestures, consort, etc.
Samantabhadra Buddha and Samantabhadra the Bodhisattva are unrelated and not the same subject or entity. The first is a special buddha unique to the Nyingma Tantric Tradition. The second is a bodhisattva that arises from the Mahayana Sutra literature.
"Primordial Lord of unchanging light,
Central origin of all mandalas,
Possessing the ocean of knowledge and pristine awareness;
Homage to Samantabhadra Father-Mother!" (Nyingma liturgical verse).
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Jeff Watt 4-2013 [updated 5-2017]