Item: Medicine Buddha - Main Form
| Origin Location | Tibet |
|---|---|
| Date Range | 1500 - 1599 |
| Lineages | Sakya, Ngor (Sakya) and Buddhist |
| Material | Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton |
| Collection | Publication: Wisdom Publications, Calender |
Classification: Deity
Appearance: Buddha
Gender: Male
Medicine Buddha (Sanskrit: Bhaishajyaguru. Tibetan: sang gye men la. English: the Buddha, Guru of Medicine).
Tibetan: Sang gye men la
Also known as Vaidurya Prabha Raja, the King of Lapis Lazuli (or sapphire) Light, he is dark blue in colour with one face and two hands, held in the right, in a gesture like that of supreme generosity, is held a myrobalan plant (Latin: terminalia chebula. Skt.: haritaki). The left hand is placed in the lap in the gesture of meditation supporting the black begging bowl of a monk - filled with nectar. Adorned with the patchwork robes of a fully ordained monk and the left arm covered, appearing in the nirmanakaya aspect of a buddha he is seated in vajra posture above a lotus and lion supported tiered throne. Standing to the left is the bodhisattva Suryabhaskara, orange in colour, the left hand holding a lotus marked with a sun and on the right side is Chandrabhaskara, white, the right hand holding a lotus marked with a moon.
Seven Medicine Buddhas & Prajnaparamita:
Sixteen Bodhisattvas: 11 (1). Eastern direction: Manjushri 12 (2). Avalokiteshvara 13 (3). Vajrapani 14 (4). Nyi Nang 15 (5). Southern direction: Chandraprabha 16 (6). Mahamati 17 (7). Maitreya 18 (8). Kyab Drol 19 (9). Western direction: Pobpa 20 (10). Nampar Nonpa 21 (11). Tana 22 (12). Jompa'i Lodro 23 (13). Northern direction: Sampa Legpa 24 (14). Lhunpo 25 (15) Sang Sangpo'i Jung 26 (16). Lhunpo Chenpo
Ten Gods: 26 (1). Eastern direction, Brahma, yellow, holding a wheel, riding a goose. 27 (2). Indra, white, holding a vajra, riding an elephant. 28 (3). Agni, red, holding a fire pot, riding a goat. 29 (4). Southern direction, Yama, blue, holding a stick, riding a buffalo. 30 (5). South-west, Raksha, black-maroon, holding a sword, riding a zombie. 31 (6). West, Varuna, white, holding a snake lasso, riding a makara. 32 (7). North-west, Vayu Deva, smoky-coloured, holding a banner, riding a deer. 33 (8). North, Yaksha, yellow, holding a mongoose, riding a horse. 34 (9). North-east, Maheshvara, white, holding a trident, riding a buffalo. 35 (10). West, Bhudevi, yellow, holding a vase, riding a sow.
Twelve Yaksha Generals: 36 (1). Eastern direction, Jijig, yellow, vajra. 37 (2). Vajra, red, sword. 38 (3). rgyan 'dzin, yellow, stick. 39 (4). Northern direction, g.za' 'dzin, light blue, stick. 40 (5). rlung 'dzin (Vatadhara), red, trident. 41 (6). gnas bcas, smoky-coloured, sword. 42 (7). Western direction, dbang 'dzin, red, stick. 43 (8). btung 'dzin, yellow, stick. 44 (9). smra 'dzin, pink, axe. 45 (10). Southern direction, bsam 'dzin, yellow, lasso. 46 (11). g.yob 'dzin, blue, stick. 47 (12). rdzogs byed, red, wheel. All hold a mongoose in the left hand, with short fat limbs and a large stomach.
Four Guardian Kings: 48 (1). East: Dhritarashtra, white 49 (2). South: Virudhaka, blue 50 (3). West: Virupaksha, red 51 (4). North: Vaishravana, yellow
Collection of All Tantras, vol.1, pages 116-117.
Jeff Watt [updated 1-2018]
Wisdom Calendar 1996 - May (full catalog list)
Publication: Wisdom Publications: Calendar Collection
Thematic Sets
Buddhist Deity: Medicine Buddha (Early Paintings)
Collection of Richard R. & Magdalena Ernst
Collection of Richard R. & Magdalena Ernst (Masterworks)
Buddhist Deity: Medicine Buddha (All 51 Figures)
Buddhist Deity: Medicine Buddha, 药师佛, སངས་རྒྱས་སྨན་ལྷ། (Masterworks)
Painting Style: Gyantse Scroll Paintings
Subject: Tibetan Medicine Main Page
Buddhist Deity: Medicine Buddha Main Page