Padmasambhava, Padmasaṃbhava, Padma-sambhava: 13 definitions
Introduction:
Padmasambhava means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
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In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Padmasambhava (पद्मसम्भव) is the name of a Pratyekabuddha mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Padmasambhava).
Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Rinpoche) revered as the “Second Buddha” and as the person who placed Buddhism on a sound footing in Tibet. According to tradition, Padmasambhava was incarnated as an eight-year-old child appearing in a lotus blossom floating in Lake Dhanakosha, in the kingdom of Oddiyana in Ancient India and in modern times identified with the Swat Valley of South Asia present-day Pakistan. His special nature was recognized by the childless local king of Oddiyana and was chosen to take over the kingdom, but he left Oḍḍiyāna for northern parts of India.
1) Padmasambhava (पद्मसम्भव) (Sanskrit; in Tibetan: padma 'byung gnas) refers to Guru Rinpoche’s birth from a lotus in the land of Oddiyana. Guru Rinpoche, the ‘Precious Master’, is the founder of Tibetan Buddhism and the Buddha of our time. Whereas Buddha is known primarily for having taught the teachings of the sūtra vehicle, Padmasambhava came into this world, and to Tibet in particular, in order to teach the Tantras. While Buddha Śākyamuni exemplifies the Buddha principle, the most important element in the sūtrayāna path, Padmasambhava personifies the guru principle, the heart of Vajrayāna Buddhism, and he is therefore known as the ‘second Buddha’ (sangyé nyipa).
2) Padmasambhava (पद्मसम्भव) is associated with Vajrakīlāya—one of the deities of the Kagyé cycle (the “eight great sadhana teachings”).—[Cf. Vajradharma, “keeper of secrets”]—When each one of the great Vajra masters who had gathered at Deché Tsekpa (Śaṅkarakūṭa) had received their particular chest, they opened them and extracted their respective teachings. However none of them were able to open the final casket containing the eight sectioned Kagyé Deshek Düpa, so for seven days the Vajra masters [e.g., Padmasambhava] became absorbed together in meditative equipoise, and prayed single-pointedly to the dakinis to assist them. As a result, after the seven days had elapsed, the seal of the last casket sprang free and it opened of its own accord. This is how they were able to extract the teachings of Kagyé Deshek Düpa.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Padmasambhava Skt., lit., “the Lotus-born”; contemporary of the Tibetan king Trisong Detsen (755–97) and one of the historically identifiable founders of Tibetan Buddhism. He left his imprint particularly on the Nyingma school and is venerated by its followers as the “second Buddha.” His special task lay in taming the indigenous demons, or the forces of nature embodied in them. The methods of Padmasambhava ranged from the use of ritual implements, such as the phurba, to the mastery of the meditation techniques of dzogchen. In the course of centuries, the figure of Padmasambhava, who continued the tradition of the mahāsiddhas, took on an increasingly legendary character. He is still venerated today in the Himalayan countries under the name Guru Rinpoche (Precious Guru).
India history and geography
Padmasambhava (lit. "Lotus-Born"), also known as the Second Buddha, was a sage guru from Oddiyana, northwestern Classical India (in the modern-day Swat Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan). Padmasambhava is said to have transmitted Vajrayana Buddhism to Tibet, Bhutan and neighboring countries in the 8th century AD. In those lands, he is better known as Guru Rinpoche (lit. "Precious Guru") or Lopon Rinpoche, or as Padum in Tibet, where followers of the Nyingma school regard him as the second Buddha.
Padmasambhava, the second Buddha vs Padmasambhava, the disciple of Shrisimha.—Modern historians have mistakenly considered Padmasambhava, the disciple of Shrisimha as the founder of the Nyingma tradition and propagated that Tibetan Buddhism has the history starting from the 8th century. In reality, Padmasambhava, the second Buddha was none other than Bodhisattva Vajrapani or Samantabhadra who lived around 1641-1541 BCE whereas Padmasambhava, the disciple of Shrisimha visited Tibet during the reign of Tibetan King Trisong Detsan (82-137 CE).
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Padmasaṃbhava (पद्मसंभव).—epithets of Brahman, the lotus-born god.
Derivable forms: padmasaṃbhavaḥ (पद्मसंभवः).
Padmasaṃbhava is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms padma and saṃbhava (संभव). See also (synonyms): padmaja, padmajāta, padmabhava, padmabhū, padmayoni.
Padmasaṃbhava (पद्मसंभव).—adj., m. epithet of Brahman, [Harivaṃśa, (ed. Calc.)] 3233.
Padmasaṃbhava is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms padma and saṃbhava (संभव).
Padmasaṃbhava (पद्मसंभव).—[masculine] = padmaja.
1) Padmasambhava (पद्मसम्भव):—[=padma-sambhava] [from padma] m. = -ja, [Harivaṃśa]
2) [v.s. ...] Name of a Buddhist teacher who founded the Red sect in Tibet, [Monier-Williams’ Buddhism 272 etc.]
Padmasaṃbhava (पद्मसंभव):—(pa + saṃ) aus einer Wasserrose hervorgegangen; m.
1) Beiname Brahman's [Harivaṃśa 3233. 7962.] —
2) Nomen proprium eines buddhistischen Gelehrten [KÖPPEN II, 68. 79. 113. 118. 259. fg.]
Padmasaṃbhava (पद्मसंभव):—m. —
1) desgl. —
2) Nomen proprium eines buddh. Gelehrten.
Padmasaṃbhava (in Sanskrit) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 蓮華生 [lián huá shēng]: “Padmasaṃbhava” [Sanskrit personal name]; Alternatively: “Gu ru Rin po che”; “Padma `byung gnas” [Tibetan personal name].
2) 蓮華生上師 [lián huá shēng shàng shī]: “Padmasaṃbhava” [Sanskrit personal name].
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Padma, Shambhava.
Full-text (+95): Lian hua sheng, Trisong Detsen, Abjasambhava, Shambhava, Uddiyana, Padumasambhava, Bardo Thodol, Samantabhadra, Padmayoni, Padmaja, Padmabhava, Padmodbhava, Padmajata, Padmabhu, Nyingma, padma 'byung gnas, Padmakara, Nyangral, Lien hoa sinh thuong su, Yanglesho.
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Search found 44 books and stories containing Padmasambhava, Padma-sambhava, Padma-saṃbhava, Padmasaṃbhava; (plurals include: Padmasambhavas, sambhavas, saṃbhavas, Padmasaṃbhavas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Way of the White Clouds (by Anāgarika Lāma Govinda)
Chapter 11 - The Rock Monastery < [Part 1 - Three Visions]
Chapter 52 - The Happy Valley < [Part 4 - Return to Western Tibet]
Chapter 53 - Final Initiations < [Part 4 - Return to Western Tibet]
Brahma Archana Paddhati (text and translation) (by Prabhunath Dwivedi)
Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po) (by George N. Roerich)
Chapter 6 - First incarnation series (i): dus gsum mkhyen pa < [Book 8 - The famous Dakpo Kagyü (traditions)]
Chapter 10 - Phagmodru lineage (i): spyan snga < [Book 8 - The famous Dakpo Kagyü (traditions)]
Chapter 8 - The introduction of the teaching by the religious king < [Book 1 - The beginning of the story of the Doctrine]
Kailash: Journal of Himalayan Studies
Part 2 - Guide to Swayambhu Stupa < [A Buddhist Guide to the Power Places of the Kathmandu Valley]
Part 3 - Biography of Dodrup Chen Rimpoche < [Five Nyingmapa Lamas in Sikkim]
Index < [The history of The Thakaali According to the Thakaali Tradition]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 1.2.67-71 < [Chapter 2 - Divya (the celestial plane)]
Sucindrasthala-mahatmya (critical edition and study) (by Anand Dilip Raj)
Chapter 16 - Shodasha Adhyaya (sodaso'dhyayah) < [Chapter 5 - Sucindrasthalamahatmya: Sanskrit critical edition]