The name Padmasambhava is a portmanteau of two very beautiful Sanskrt words from the yoga vocabulary. ‘Padma’ translates to lotus, which in yogic imagery stands for compassion and equanimity and supreme stability. ‘Sambhava’ translates to equanimity and steadiness of temper and emotion. Padmasambhava is the name of a Vajrayana Buddhsit guru who is said to have transmitted the esoteric practices of the tradition to Tibet (He was from India).

Immortalised in numerous classical thangkas, the thangka that you see on this page is a contemporary reproduction of Guru Padmasabhava’s chhavi (image). A serene face, and a piercing gaze that emanates from His heavenly blue eyes. Wisdom and compassion writ large on His brow. The five-pronged vajra in His right hand, the nectar of deathless wisdom in the gilt skullcup in His left. The all-important khatvanga in the crease of His left elbow with the trishoola (trident) head symbolic of trikaya ie the dharmakaya (of essence), the sambhogakaya (of pleasure), and the nirmanakaya (of transformation) of the great Lord Buddha.

From the layered robes the Guru Padmasambhava is wearing to that which surrounds Him - the solid gold-and-jewels aureole, the multicoloured lotus-seat, and the elements of the surrounding landscape - are all very typical of the traditional thangka. This is inclusive of the wisp-like shapes and, of course, the delicate pastel tints of the natural elements.