TIBET, 16TH CENTURY

Padmasambhava (literally ‘lotus-born’ in Sanskrit) is considered one of the principal early teachers to have brought Buddhism to Tibet in the eighth century. He is depicted in numerous forms with different names representing the outer, inner and secret aspects of his spiritual being. Here, he is seated in dhyanasana on a lotus base with a beaded rim. He holds a vajra and kapala in his hands and wears thick robes incised with floral and stippled motifs, his head topped with the famous raven-feather cap.