Padmasambhava with Amitabha Buddha Thangka

Description

Padmasambhava with Amitabha Buddha Thangka is handpainted on cotton canvas. Padmasambhava is generally referred to as Rinpoche which means precious master.

Padmasambhava is presented at the center of the thangka. Amitabha Buddha is presented at the top of the Padmasambhava in the thangka. Two offering goddesses are presented at the bottom of the Padmasambhava in the thangka.

Padmasambhava is also referred to as the Second Buddha as he’s so important for assisting in the founding of Tibetan Buddhism in Tibet.

Padmasambhava was born in the 8th century and he was a tantric master famous for performing miracles. He did not become enlightened gradually, or start practicing the teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni and eventually achieve enlightenment. Guru Rinpoche is incarnated as a fully enlightened being.

Mantra of Padmasambhava

The mantra of  Padmasambhava is Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum.

Guru Rinpoche is a totally enlightened being, a fully awakened one, a buddha.

Iconography of Padmasambhava

The Khatvanga, a danda with three severed heads denoting the three kayas (the three bodies of a Buddha: the dharmakaya, sambhogakaya, and nirmanakaya), crowned by a Trishula and dressed in a sash of the Himalayan Rainbow or Five Pure Lights of the Mahabhuta is a particular divine attribute of Padmasambhava and intrinsic to his iconographic representation.

His two eyes are wide open in a piercing gaze. On his body, he wears a white vajra undergarment and, on top of this, in layers, a red robe, a dark blue Mantrayana tunic, a red monastic shawl decorated with a golden flower pattern, and a maroon cloak of silk brocade. He has one face and two hands.

In his right hand, he holds a five-pronged vajra at his heart; and in his left, which rests in the gesture of equanimity, he holds a skull-cup in the center of which is a vase of longevity filled with the nectar of deathless wisdom. Cradled in his left arm is a three-pointed Khatvanga representing the consort Mandarava. On his head, he wears a five-petalled lotus hat.

Wrathful and smiling, he blazes magnificently with the splendor of the major and minor marks. He is seated with his two feet in the royal posture.

Iconography of Amitabha Buddha

Amitabha Buddha is presented at the top of the Padmasambhava in the thangka. Amitabha is head of the Lotus Family, one of the oldest & significant of the Five Buddha Families. This family represents love, purity, compassion & peace. Amitabha Purelandis a place of infinite bliss & boundless light.

Amitabha Buddha is also one of the five Tathagatas representing the wisdoAmitabha Buddha is also one of the five Tathagatas representing the wisdom of discriminating awareness. Amitabha Buddha is red in color. He is represented in the stupa facing to the west. He rides on a peacock symbolizing that he can take away the suffering of others just as the peacock eats poisonous plants and yet his tail shines forth.

Mantra of Amitabha Buddha

The mantra of Amitabha Buddha is Om Ami dewa hr.