Item: Padmasambhava

Padmasambhava (Tibetan: pema jung ne. English: Lotus Born) and the Eight Great Mahasiddhas according to the painting composition of Situ Panchen Chokyi Jungne.

At the top center is the blue Vajradhara Buddha. On the left side, flying in the air embracing his consort is Ghantapa. Below that, seated on a grassy slope, attired in the robes of the Buddhist Sangha is Nagarjuna. Below that is the archer Saraha holding a long arrow with both hands, seated on a deer skin, accompanied by two female attendant figures. Again below that is King Indrabhuti seated on a raised throne and wearing a turban crown, regal clothing and boots.

At the upper right side is Dombi Heruka riding a tiger while embracing his consort. Below that is Kukkuripa sitting in a relaxed posture with a black dog at his side. Below that is Padmavajra in a seated posture lifting a skull bowl up to his mouth. At the bottom right, in a rocky cave is Lawapa seated in a yogic posture.

The small male figures seated in clouds are the Eight Great Bodhisattvas. This is a single painting depicting each of the single mahasiddhas from the Situ Panchen nine painting set.

Numbered List:
1. Samantabhadra Buddha
2. Vajradhara
3. Padmasambhava
4. Dombi Heruka
4a. Vajrapani Bodhisattva
5. Kukkuripa
5a. Bodhisattva
6. Padmavajra
6a. Nivarana Vishkambhin Bodhisattva (?)
7. Lawapa
7a. Bodhisattva
8. Indrabhuti
8a. Bodhisattva
9. Saraha
9a. Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva
10. Nagarjuna
10a. Manjushri Bodhisattva
11. Ghantapa
11a. Bodhisattva

Jeff Watt 3-2007

Thematic Sets
Indian Adept: Lawapa (Palpung Iconography)
Padmasambhava: Painting Masterworks (RMA)
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art: Painting Gallery 4
Subject: Indian Adepts - Palpung Single Composition (8)
Subject: Eight Siddhas (Eight Great Adepts)
Subject: Padmasambhava Composition (Palpung)