The central figure, Padmasambhava as Shakyasimha, is seated in vajraparyankasana on a lotus base. His right hand is in bhumisparsha-mudra and left hand is in meditation position and holding a bowl. Below the lotus seat is a scorpion, his striking symbol. The scorpion is generally held in the left hand of his fierce form. On the top, Vairochana Buddha is seated, above the head of Padmasambhava, on a lotus seat in rainbow light. The Buddha Shakyamuni is perhaps seated on lotus throne on the upper left corner, while the Buddha Amoghadarshana, on the upper right corner, in clouds. Akshobhya Buddha is seated on a lotus base in bottom left corner, while Amitabha Buddha in the left.
Padmasambhava was a great yogi, originally from Oddiyana, an ancient country in what is today northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. He was invited to Tibet by one of the most famous Buddhist scholars of the time, Shantarakshita, and the Tibetan king Trisong Detsen, to help in the establishment of Buddhism in Tibet. In collaboration with them, he founded the Samye monastery in Tibet. He 'tamed' many local deities and initiated Tantric Buddhist teachings in Tibet. He was thus rightly regarded as a major spiritual ancestor of all Tibetan Buddhists in general and the father of Nyingma sect in particular.
Padmasambhava actually condensed the dark and destructive energies of the 'outer' demons, and emotional obstacles of the Tibetan people, priest and ruling elite, into the bright light of Dharma. In the same way as the Buddha Shakyamuni turned the weapons of Mara into a rain of flowers. Padmasambhava was able to transform the negative energies of Tibet into Dharma activities. Thus, at the same time as Padmasambhava conquers the outer demonic forces, he also conquers the inner negativities.
He transmitted the essence of his teachings to twenty-five disciples. As each symbolically offered body, speech, and mind to the Guru, he/she perfected a particular meditative realization. Through their efforts flows the lineage of Padmasambhava to the present time. King Trisong Detsen arranged contests of skills between Buddhists and Bonpos, in which the disciples vanquished the Bonpos.
The thangka is skillfully painted. The middle ground is filled with high peaks, waterfalls, and cranes etc., and the foreground with auspicious offerings, insects, animals, rocks, lakes, flower, and natural vegetation etc.
References:
Alice Getty, The Gods of Northern Buddhism, Tokyo, 1962
L.A. Waddell, Buddhism & Lamaism of Tibet, New Delhi, 1979 (reprint)
M.M. Rhie & R. A. F. Thurman, The Sacred Art Of Tibet, London, 1996
This description by Dr. Shailendra Kumar Verma, Ph.D. His doctorate thesis being on the "Emergence and Evolution of the Buddha Image (From its inception to 8th century A.D)."
Click Here to View the Thangka Painting along with its Brocade
For privacy concerns, please view our Privacy Policy
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist