No. 224Buddhism

Padmasambhava

པདྨ་འབྱུང་གནས་ (གུ་རུ་རིན་པོ་ཆེ་)

The Lotus-Born Precious Guru who carried Vajrayana across the Himalayas

Padmasambhava, the Lotus-Born, is revered by Tibetan Buddhists as Guru Rinpoche, the Precious Guru. Tradition says he came from Oddiyana in the eighth century, was invited to Tibet by King Trisong Detsen, and helped establish Samye, its first monastery. He is credited with bringing Vajrayana teachings to Tibet, turning obstructing forces into protectors of the Dharma, and hiding treasure teachings (terma) for future ages.

Devotees honour him as a second Buddha and, for many, the Buddha of this troubled age. Nyingma practitioners hold him as the root of their lineage. He is also revered in Bhutan, Sikkim, Ladakh and Nepal. The tenth day of each lunar month is kept for him with prayer and offerings, and festivals honour him with sacred dance.

See the gallery
Padmasambhava
The Spiritual Master Padmasambhava, 14th century. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Zimmerman Family Collection, Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace, The Vincent Astor Foundation, Eliot C. Nolen, T. Rowe Price Services, Inc. and Sir Joseph Hotung Gifts; Sey

How to recognise Padmasambhava

  1. Lotus hat (padma zhwa)His signature crown is like a pandita hat without lappets, sides folded up, topped with a vajra and one or three vulture feathers and marked with a sun and moon on the front; it is the principal hat of the Nyingma tradition.
  2. Five-pronged vajraHis right hand holds a vajra at his heart.
  3. Skull cup (kapala)His left hand rests in the gesture of equanimity holding a skull cup with a vase of long-life nectar inside, a symbol of transformation rather than horror.
  4. Khatvanga staffA three-pointed staff rests in the crook of his left arm, topped with three heads (fresh, decaying, skeletal) and a vajra and hung with silks; it represents the three kayas and his consort Mandarava.
  5. Royal ease on a lotusHe sits in lalitasana, one leg drawn in and one extended, on a moon disc and lotus, often upon a throne.
  6. Layered robesLook for a white under-robe, a blue silk robe with a copper neckpiece, a dull-red monk's robe and a fur-lined dark-red cloak, whose colours stand for mastery of the different yanas.
  7. Piercing gazeHis youthful, pinkish-white face has wide eyes and slightly raised brows, a semi-wrathful but compassionate look.

Names and titles

  • The Lotus-BornThe meaning of Padmasambhava: born from a lotus, in Tibetan Pema Jungne
  • Guru Rinpoche, the Precious GuruThe name by which Tibetans and Bhutanese most commonly address him
  • The Second BuddhaA title of deep reverence: tradition holds that Shakyamuni foretold his coming and that he brought the Vajrayana teachings to Tibet
  • Keeper of Hidden TreasuresWith Yeshe Tsogyal he is said to have hidden teachings (terma) for future treasure-revealers to find
  • Who Turned Spirits to GuardiansHe is said to have won over the forces that blocked the Dharma in the Himalayas and made them protectors

Feast days

  • Guru Rinpoche Day19 November 2026
  • Guru Rinpoche Day (Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche)13 June 2027
  • Guru Rinpoche Day (Hemis Tsechu)13 July 2027

Padmasambhava in the shop

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Sources

  1. Encyclopedia of Buddhism: Padmasambhava
  2. New World Encyclopedia: Padmasambhava
  3. Samye Institute: Padmasambhava
  4. Wikipedia: Padmasambhava
  5. Lotsawa House: Guru Padmasambhava
  6. E-Buddhism: Padmasambhava
  7. Himalayan Art Resources: Padmasambhava (set 5737)
  8. Tibetan Art: Padmasambhava artwork
  9. Termatree: Lotus-Born Guru Rinpoche
  10. Gandhanra Art: Guru Rinpoche meaning, mantra and symbolism
  11. Buddha Weekly: Rinpoche Day and Tsog
  12. Buddha Weekly: Annual Guru Rinpoche Anniversary Day
  13. OfficeHolidays: Birth Anniversary of Guru Rimpoche, Bhutan
  14. CalendarLabs: Bhutan holidays 2027
  15. Tour Bhutan: Bhutan festival dates
  16. Windhorse Tours: Paro Tshechu Festival
  17. Wikipedia: Tshechu
  18. Wikipedia: Paro Taktsang
  19. Tribune India: Tshechu fair at Rewalsar
  20. The News Radar: Prayer gathering at Rewalsar
  21. Wikipedia: Rewalsar Lake
  22. Wikipedia: Rewalsar, India
  23. Leh Ladakh Taxis: Ladakh monastery festivals
  24. Incredible India: Hemis Festival
  25. Wikipedia: Mani Rimdu
  26. Sacred Destinations: Samye Monastery
  27. Tibet Focus: Samye Monastery
  28. Wikipedia: Terma (religion)
  29. Wikipedia: Yeshe Tsogyal
  30. Enlightenment Thangka: Eight Manifestations of Guru Rinpoche
  31. Wikipedia: Padma Gyalpo
  32. Buddha Weekly: 8 Guru Rinpoche forms
  33. Buddha Weekly: Guru Rinpoche
  34. Shambhala: Tibetan practice days
  35. Samye Mandala: Guru Rinpoche Day 2026
  36. Himalayan Art Resources: set 6871
  37. Little Bhutan: Bhutan festival calendar
  38. Time and Date: Guru Rinpoche's Birthday, Bhutan
  39. Discover with Dheeraj: Ladakh festivals calendar
  40. Greenlimon Holidays: Hemis Festival

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