Explaining Lama Teacher Yutog Yontan Ganpo

Yutog Yontan Gonpo is the second physician king of Tibet. Yutog Yontan Gonpo is one of the founders of the Tibetan medical system. He is surrounded by images of the Buddha, medicine Goddesses, and tutelary deities.

The Existence of the Yutog Yontan Gonpo

In this section, we are going to talk about the existence of Yutog Yontan Gonpo, after that there presented a short etymological description of the Yutog Yontan Gonpo itself.

Etymology of Yutog Yontan Gonpo

Yutog Yontan Gonpo is a 12th-century lama teacher. Yutog Youtan Ganpo is the Physician King of Tibet, with the Five Buddhas above and the tutelary deity Hayagriva below.

The younger Yutog is the originator of the Yutog Nyingtig cycle of Revealed Treasure teachings.

Earlier, we studied the Existence of the Yutog Yontan Ganpo. Now we are going to learn about the iconography of Yutog Yontan Ganpo.

Iconography of the Yutog Yontan Ganpo

In the iconography of the Yutog Yontan Ganpo, we will learn about her body posture, hand and leg gesture, and different representations of  Yutog Yontan Ganpo in thangka and statue.

Posture of Yutog Yontan Ganpo

Yutog Yontan Ganpo is pleasant in appearance and clean-shaven.

Yutog Yontan Ganpo stretches the right arm forward across the knee in the mudra (gesture) of generosity while holding the stem of a pink lotus flower blossoming over the shoulder supporting the wisdom book and sword.

The left placed at the heart of Yutog Yontan Ganpo holds the stem of another lotus, blossoming over the left shoulder supporting a gold vajra and medicinal nectar vase topped with precious jewels.

Yutog Yontan Ganpo is with a headdress of red flower blossoms. Yutog Yontan Ganpo wears a long flowing garment typical of a layman, trimmed with blue and tied with a red sash.

Yutog Yontan Ganpo sits surrounded by a blue-orange nimbus and dark green aureola. In front, an ornate table supports a large bowl of myrobalan fruit, precious jewels, and the like.

previously, we studied the Existence of the Yutog Yontan Ganpo and iconography of Yutog Yontan Ganpo. Now we are going to learn about depicting Lama Teacher Yutog Yontan Ganpo.

Depicting Teacher (Lama) – Yutog Yontan Gonpo Thangka

The Thangka of  Yutog Yontan Ganpo is from  Tibet. It was made in between 1600 AD to 1699 AD. It is from Nyingma, Gelug, and Buddhist Lineage. The base of the painting is a cotton, ground mineral pigment, Raised gold line are used to make the painting. Presently this painting is in the Rubin Museum of Art.

By depicting this thangka, we are going to grab about the different deities such as Akshobhya Buddha, Ratnasambhava Buddha, Vairochana Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, Amoghasiddhi Buddha, Four Standing Goddesses, Black Hayagriva, etc.

 Akshobhya Buddha

Buddha Akshobhya is at the top center of the Yutog Yontan Ganpo in the thangka. Buddha Akshobhys one face and two hands who are holding to the heart with the right a vajra scepter and with the left a skullcup in the lap. Buddha Akshobhya is seated in vajra posture he embraces the consort.

Ratnasambhava Buddha

Ratnasambhava Buddha is at the left of Yutag Yontan Ganpo. Ratnasambhava Buddha is holding a jewel to the heart and embracing the consort.

Vairochana Buddha

Vairochana Buddha is below the Yutog Yontan Ganpo in the thangka. Vairochana Buddha is holding a wheel to the heart.

Amitabha Buddha

Amitabha Buddha is at the right of the thangka.  Amitabha Buddha is holding a lotus flower.

Amoghasiddhi Buddha

Amoghasiddhi Buddha is below in the thangka. Amoghasiddhi Buddha is holding a visva-vajra to the heart. All are in similar appearance, embracing a consort, seated on a lotus blossom, and surrounded by radiant light.

Four Standing Goddesses

Four Standing Goddesses is at the middle right and left of the thangka. They are holding a flute, horn, lute, and a mirror. Beautiful in appearance with flowing garments they stand on lotus seats surrounded by light.

Black Hayagriva

Medicine Buddha is at the bottom center of the thangka in the form of a wrathful tutelary deity, Black Hayagriva who is with one face, three eyes, and upward flowing hair. The top of the head of Black Hayagriva is crowned with a single green horse head.

The right-hand of Black Hayagriva holds aloft a curved knife and in the left a skullcup to the heart embracing the consort. On the back of  Black Hayagriva, there are two large black wings are unfurled.

In a fierce posture with the right leg bent and left straight he stands upon two reclining bodies above a sun disc and multi-colored lotus blossom completely surrounded by the orange and red flames of the fires of pristine awareness.

Black Hayagriva is adorned with a tiara of five skulls and various bone ornaments, they each stand on the left leg in a dancing posture atop a corpse, sun disc and lotus seat surrounded by a nimbus of radiant light.

previously, we studied the Existence of the Yutog Yontan Ganpo, iconography, and presentation of Yutog Yontan Ganpo with Akshobhya Buddha, Ratnasambhava Buddha, Vairochana Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, Amoghasiddhi Buddha, Four Standing Goddesses, and Black Hayagriva. Now we are going to learn about the representation of Yutog Yontan Ganpo with Shakyamuni Buddha.

Yutog Yontan Ganpo with Sakyamuni Buddha Thangka

Yutog Yontan Ganpo with Shakyamuni Buddha was painted around 1700-1799 AD.  The base of the painting is cotton and the ground mineral pigment is used to color it. Yutog Yontan Ganpo belongs to Gelug and Buddhist lineage. This Masterpiece Thangka Art is still preserved and kept in A Tale of Thangka.

By depicting this thangka we will learn the representation of  Yutog Yontan Ganpo with different Buddhist deities such as Pond  Yeshe Khandro Tsomo Palden Treng, Blue Medicine Buddha, Red Amitayus Buddha, and Shakyamuni Buddha, Red Amitayus and Shakyamuni Buddha,  Padmasambhava and a Rishi, Hayagriva, Kutagara Vajrapani, and Yutog Nyingtig Mahakala, etc.

Yutog Yontan Ganpo is pleasant in appearance and clean-shaven. He stretches the right arm forward across the knee in the gesture of generosity while holding the stem of a pink lotus flower blossoming at the shoulder supporting the wisdom sword. The left placed in the lap supports a medicinal vase.

He wears a long flowing garment typical of a layman, trimmed with green and tied with a sash. Atop a moon disc and lotus, he sits surrounded by rays of light. Four medicinal goddesses sit or stand at the sides: green, red, white, and yellow.

 Pond  Yeshe Khandro Tsomo Palden Treng

Pond  Yeshe Khandro Tsomo Palden Treng is directly below the central figure.  Pond  Yeshe Khandro Tsomo Palden Trengemale wisdom Dakini that taught Yutog Yontan Gonpo the ‘Heart Essence’ Yutog Nyingtig.

Blue Medicine Buddha

Blue Medicine Buddha is at the top center of the thangka.

Red Amitayus Buddha and Shakyamuni Buddha

Red Amitayus Buddha and Shakyamuni Buddha are on the left side of the thangka.

Padmasambhava and Rishi

Padmasambhava and a Rishi are on the right side of the thangka.

Hayagriva

Hayagriva is on the middle left side of the thangka.

Kutagara Vajrapani

Kutagara Vajrapani is on the right side of the thangka.

Yutog Nyingtig Mahakala

Yutog Nyingtig Mahakala is at the bottom left side.

previously, we studied the existence of the Yutog Yontan Ganpo, iconography,  presentation of Yutog Yontan Ganpo with Akshobhya Buddha, Ratnasambhava Buddha, Vairochana Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, Amoghasiddhi Buddha, Four Standing Goddesses, and Black Hayagriva and representation of Yutog Yontan Gonpo with Shakyamuni Buddha. Now, we are going to learn about the representation of Yutog Yontan Ganpo with Yutog Nyingtig.

Yutog Yontan Ganpo with Yutog Nyingtig Thangka

Yutog Yontan Ganpo with Yutog Nyingtig was painted around 1900-1999 AD.  The base of the painting is cotton and the ground mineral pigment is used to color it. Yutog Yontan Ganpo belongs to Karma and Buddhist lineage. This Masterpiece Thangka Art is still preserved and kept in Wisdom Publications.

By depicting this thangka we are going to learn about the representation of Yutog Yontan Ganpo with Yutog Nyingtig.

Yutog Yontan Gonpo is known as the Physician King of Tibet. There are allegedly two Yutog Yontan Gonpos who referred to as the Elder and Younger. The existence of the Elder Yutog 8th century has been questioned by many scholars over the centuries.

The younger Yutog is the originator of the Yutog Nyingtig cycle of ‘Revealed Treasure’ teachings. It is most likely the case that all thangka depictions, and sculpture, of Yutog Yontan Gonpo, are depictions of the younger 12th- century Yutog.

Earlier, we studied the existence of the Yutog Yontan Ganpo, iconography,  presentation of Yutog Yontan Ganpo with Akshobhya Buddha, Ratnasambhava Buddha, Vairochana Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, Amoghasiddhi Buddha, Four Standing Goddesses, and Black Hayagriva and presentation of Yutog Yontan Gonpo with Shakyamuni Buddha. Finally, we learn about the representation of  Yutog Yontan Ganpo with Yutog Nyingtig

Vajradhara Thangka Painting

Vajradhara Thangka Painting is hand-painted by a thangka artist in Nepal. Vajradhara is also known as primordial Buddha.

Buy Vajradhara Thangka Painting