Padmasambhava or Rinpoche was a renowned and highly learned tantric saint of Northern India. In the middle of the eight century the Tibetan King Thi-Sron Detsan sent to India inviting the learned guru to come to Tibet. Rinpoche was renowned for his knowledge of tantras and of their efficacious application. He remained 50 years in Tibet founding monasteries and teaching the tantra doctrine. He is said to have subdued all the malignant gods in the Tibet sparing only those that became converted to Buddhism and that promised to be defenders (Dharmapala) of the doctrine. rinpoche in his turn, promised to enroll them in the Mahayana Pantheon. He claimed to have received from the dakini the books from which he acquired his miraculous power. At the end of fifty years Rinpoche disappeared miraculously.

 

Rinpoche is represented seated on a lotus asana with the legs locked, the right hand holding the vajra and the left, lying in his lap, the patra. He holds his special symbol, the khatvanga pressed against his breast with the left arm.