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Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), the main founder of Buddhism in Tibet, surrounded by other forms of himself. Gouache painting by a Tibetan artist.

Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava). Gouache painting by a Tibetan artist.

Episodes in the life of Prince Dri-med-kun-Idan. Distemper painting by a Tibetan painter.

The Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara surrounded by other Buddhist deities. Distemper painting.

In the centre of the painting is Avalokiteśvara, the patron deity of Tibet, whose chief function is compassion. His body-colour is white. In his top knot there is an image of Amitābha, the Buddha of Infinite Light. He has four arms: in his upper right hand he holds a rosary, in his upper left hand an open white lotus, and in his two lower hands he holds a jewel level with his heart. He is seated in full lotus posture on a lotus throne
In the top left corner is a seated Śākyamuni Buddha, his body colour golden with a green halo and a dark blue body-nimbus. In his left hand he holds a dark blue begging bowl and his right hand forms the earth-touching gesture which calls the earth to witness that he has reached supreme Enlightenment
The deity in the top right corner is Vajrasattva, his body-colour blue, with a green halo and dark blue body-nimbus, his left hand in meditation gesture holding a vajra (thunderbolt), his right hand forming the earth-touching gesture. His hair and top knot are golden and he wears monk's robes
In the bottom left corner the White Tara holds a vajra in each hand, one pointing upwards and one downwards. She wears golden Bodhisattva ornaments and sits in full lotus meditation posture, i.e. with the soles of both feet turned upwards on both thighs, on a lotus throne
In the bottom right corner Padmasambhava is seated, a ritual wand under his left arm, his left hand holding a white bowl, his right hand a vajra, seated in meditation posture on a lotus throne. In the centre are the symbols of the five senses

1 painting : distemper on linen ; distemper 46 x 34 cm

Guru Rinpoche (Tibetan "Precious teacher"), known in Sanskrit as Padma Sambhava ("Born of a lotus"), referring to his miraculous birth from lotus blossom. Founder of the Nyingmapa school of Buddhism in Tibet

1 painting : gouache, with watercolour ; image 53.7 x 36.7 cm

Prince Dri-med-kun-Idan, also known in Tibetan as Prince Thams-cad-sgrol (Saviour of all, literally "Liberating all"), in Sanskrit as Viśvantara, and in Pali as Vessantara, is a former incarnation of the Buddha Gautama. The prince was so compassionate that when asked for a wish-fulfilling gem belonging to his father the king, he took it and gave it away. He was exiled to Koṅ-po (Kongpo) in Tibet, near the Buchu geomantic temple, and by and by gave away his wife, his children and his eyes. After much hardship all these were restored to him. The story, in the form of a drama, is often performed in Tibet and in Southern Buddhist countries such as Burma and Sri Lanka
In the centre of the painting is Padma Sambhava (Tibetan Pa-dma-'byuṅ-gnas, "He who was born out of the Lotus"), generally called Guru Rinpoche ("precious teacher"), founder of the Nyingmapa school of Buddhism in Tibet

1 painting : distemper on silk ; silk 63 x 52 cm

1 painting : gouache, with watercolour ; image 74.3 x 53.5 cm

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Padma Sambhava, approximately 717-approximately 762

Images

Catalogue

The Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara surrounded by other Buddhist deities. Distemper painting.

Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava). Gouache painting by a Tibetan artist.

Episodes in the life of Prince Dri-med-kun-Idan. Distemper painting by a Tibetan painter.

Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), the main founder of Buddhism in Tibet, surrounded by other forms of himself. Gouache painting by a Tibetan artist.

Wellcome uses cookies.

Padma Sambhava, approximately 717-approximately 762

Images

Catalogue

The Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara surrounded by other Buddhist deities. Distemper painting.

Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava). Gouache painting by a Tibetan artist.

Episodes in the life of Prince Dri-med-kun-Idan. Distemper painting by a Tibetan painter.

Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), the main founder of Buddhism in Tibet, surrounded by other forms of himself. Gouache painting by a Tibetan artist.

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