Padmasambhava ("Lotus Born One")

Object Details

• Label

  The “Lotus-Born One” (Padma Sambhava) brought Buddhism from India to Tibet in the eighth century. He has since been known as “Precious Teacher” (Guru Rinpoche) by Tibetan Buddhists who believe he buried hidden treasures in the form of texts throughout the landscape. Later, learned disciples found and unearthed those texts, revealing their wisdom at the perfect time. Here, the teacher’s furrowed brow, intense gaze, and upraised hand gesture give a potent warning to evil forces that would threaten Buddhist teachings.

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Art of Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas (March 25, 2023 - ongoing)

  Encountering the Buddha: Art and Practice Across Asia (October 14, 2017 to February 6, 2022)

  Doorway to an Enlightened World: The Tibetan Shrine from the Alice S. Kandell Collection (March 19 to November 27, 2016)

  Art of the Gift: Recent Acquisitions (July 24 to December 13, 2015)

  The Tibetan Shrine from the Alice S. Kandell Collection (March 13, 2010 to November 27, 2016)

• Origin

  Central Tibet

• Credit Line

  The Alice S. Kandell Collection

• Type

  Sculpture

• On View

  Sackler Gallery 22a: The Art of Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1750s

• Place

  Tibet

• Topic

  Gilding, Vajrayana Buddhism, Repoussé, Art, Alice S. Kandell Collection, Padmasambhava, Educators, Metal-work, South Asian and Himalayan Art, Sculpture, Urna, Gurus, Engraving (incising)

• Culture

  Buddhists, Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Sculpture

• On View

  Yes