Padmasambhava Guru Rinpoche – The Tantrik Buddhist Master

Padmasambhava Guru Rinpoche Symbolic Meaning

Padmasambhava commonly also known as Guru Rinpoche, Padhmasambhava refers to the one born from the lotus in Sanskrit. Guru Rinpoche was known to be Indian master of tantric. Later on he became known as the Tibetan teacher  “Slob-dpon” after his journey to Tibet. He is regarded as the one who played a very important role in the 8th century to spread Vajrayana Buddhism to the whole Tibet. Padmasambhava Guru Rinpoche is said to have taken eight different forms showing sides of his being, such as his anger, compassion, etc. Historically very little is known about him, since he is subject of different myths.

 One of the four major rivers that flow from the Kailash Mountain, river “Sindhu” takes it path through the western part of Odiyana. When the river reaches Odiyana, it connects to lake full of beautiful lotuses. The lake was also known as “the ocean of milk” since the roots created a milky juice, which blend into the water of lake. Before the birth of Guru Padmasambhava, a big, beautiful, red lotus grew in the middle of the lake. And it is believed from the grace of Buddha Amitabha in space the syllable of Buddha dropped into the corolla of the lotus. Hence after the syllable solved into the lotus , there was an eight year old child enlightened by birth sitting in the fully blossomed lotus. He had a beautiful lotus on one hand and a shiny vajra on the other hand then he started giving teachings to the dakinis and deities of the area.

Padmsambhava Guru is believed to have come from India to Tibet at the invitation of the Tibetan King Ti-song de Tsen in 747 AD.During the Era of Ruler Trisong Detsen, Padmasambhava is said to have been the one who established the Tibet’s first ever Buddhist monastery “Samye”. He is also considered as the creator of the Nyingma school, which is regarded as the earliest tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He was regarded as the reincarnation of the Shakyamuni Buddha or hence the second Buddha.

Padmasambhava was believed to have had five female tantric consorts. When viewed from an external, or even historical views, these five women were believed to be from all over the Asia who were known as the Five Consorts. The consorts who came from very different geographical areas representing the mandala. They became a helping hands for Guru Padmasambhava in teaching the dharma throughout the various region and states all over the southern Asia.

 However it is not possible to show detailed information of his history and his work. It is believed that he helped in spreading the Buddhism through out the southern Asia. Hence it can be said that the world of Buddhism credits the teaching and spreading of the Vajrayana Buddhism to the Guru Padmasambhava.

Gestures and Postures of Padmasambhava Guru Rinpoche

Padmasambhav Guru is seated on a lotus base. His right leg is stretched upfront and the left leg is in folded state. His right hand holds a vajra and the left hand lying on his lap holding  ritual bowl. He holds the khatvana as his special symbol across his shoulder towards the left side of his head. His khatvana bears double dorje in the middle. On top of it there lies two heads and a skull. On top of the skull there is trishula with fire. His facial expression shows the intensity of the tantric who is in deep meditating state.

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