A small bronze figure of Padmasambhava and a copper alloy repoussé shrine, gau


Probably Bhutan and Nepal 18th/19th centuryThe siddha cast seated in padmasana on a base of trefoil lotus petals above a tall rectangular plinth, a vajra in his right hand and an alms bowl in his left, a staff in the crook of his elbow; the gau decorated with scrolling foliage, lanca characters, and flaming jewellery, with a brass inlaid row of beaded jewellery at the side edge. Padmasambhava: 10.7cm (4 1/4in) high (2).
|Padmasambhava is the tantric mahasiddha par excellence; as a perfected Bodhisattva, he is able to take on various manifestations. Padmasambhava is credited with founding Buddhism in Tibet in the 8th century, after quelling preventative forces through tantric means. As the root guru of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism, its followers believe Padmasambhava left behind 'treasure teachings' (terma) throughout the Tibetan landscape to be discovered when the world is ready for them.