Image title: Padmasambhava (the Great Magician-Teacher)

This Copper sculpture shows an image of Padmasambhava (the Great Magician-Teacher), from the 17th century origination from Tibet.—Materials used: Copper.

This arresting image, now minus its lotus pedestal, represents Padmasambhava, “The Lotus Born,” an eight-century Indian Tantric master and one of the Eighty-four “Great Perfected Ones” (mahasiddhas). They are Tibetan or Indian mystics and teachers venerated for their great knowledge and wonder-working powers.

Padmasambhava was influential in bringing Buddhism to Tibet and in establishing its first monastery. Practicioners of Nonrthern Buddhism (Tibet, Bhutan, northern-border Nepal) view him as the source of their doctrine, refer to him as the “Second Buddha,” and in some contexts consider him the [???] transcendent Buddha of which the historical Buddha is but one of his manifestatins. Padmasambhava is also known as Precious Master (Guru Rinpoche), and the Guru ot Urgyen, reference to his origin in Urgyen/Uddiyana, the Swat Valley of modern Pakistan, once a stronghold of Buddhism. In Kathmandu Valley Buddhism Padmasamhhava is of minor importance.

Padmasamhhava is always depicted seated, wears a monk’s robes, and a distinctive hat said to typify that of his homeland. His right hand is raised in the gesture of teaching and usually holds a thunderbolt. His other attributes [are a] skull cup held in his lap and a ritual or magic wand (khatvanga), missing here, supported across the left shoulder.

Gallery information:

The Patan Museum is located on the Durbar square of Patan (Lalitpur/Lalitapura, Kathmandu, Nepal) which is associated Keshav Narayan Chowk (Keshavnarayan)—a form of Lord Vishnu. Being listed as a World Heritage Site, the whole of Durbar square is filled with exquisite temples, sculptures and other ancient structures, of which the ancient history history can be traced to the Malla Kings of Lalitpur. It is an important site for both Buddhism and Hinduism.