Guru Rinpoche Tibetan Buddhist Handmade Brocade Thangka

This Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava thangka is 34 inches long and 20 inches wide. The material around the thangka is made from brocade. This thangka was handmade in Nepal. Padmasambhava, Guru Rinpoche brought Buddhism to Tibet in the late eighth century. Guru Rinpoche was born in India, in an area that is now on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Padmasambhava means, son of the lotus, and Guru Rinpoche was born out of a lotus and found there by the king. The king brought Padmasambhava home and raised him.

Guru Rinpoche studied the tenants of Buddhism and is said to have learned and understood everything by listening only one time. He married a princess, and also had consorts throughout his life.

Lord Buddha asked Avalokiteshvara to tame the country of Tibet. She cried tears for the unruliness of Tibet and from her tears a daughter was born. Her daughter stole celestial flowers and died and came back as Dechogma. Dechogma built a stupa in Nepal but was unable to complete it in her lifetime, and so her son, who died and was reborn as Trisong Deutsen (a great Tibetan king) finished the stupa. Trisong Deutsen also called Guru Rinpoche from India, and he brought Buddhism to Tibet.

Guru Rinpoche stayed in Tibet for over 50 years and blessed every inch of Tibet. The mantra associated with Guru Rinpoche is the Vajra Guru mantra. "Om Ah Hung Vajra Guru Pema Siddhi Hung." It is said that repeating this mantra over and over is the same as learning all of the tenants of Buddhism.