The Great Monk Shantarakshita
Shantarakshita (Main figure)
(Top to bottom): Shantarakshita and Dorje Shugden
Deity: Shantarakshita (Sanskrit)
Alternative name: Shiwa Tsho (Tibetan)
Shantarakshita was a great Indian pandit from Nalanda Monastery. The King of Tibet at that time, Trisong Detsen, invited him to Tibet in order to establish the country’s first monastic community at Samye Monastery. However, local supernatural beings hampered his efforts to spread the Dharma there. It was then that he advised King Trisong Detsen to invite the great Tantric practitioner Guru Rinpoche in order to subdue these negative forces. Once these forces were subdued, Shantarakshita was able to ordain the first seven monks in Tibet according to the Sarvastivadin tradition which descended through the incomparable master Nagarjuna. He spent the rest of his life tirelessly teaching and upholding Buddhist practice. He was one of the most influential masters whose efforts resulted in Buddhism’s introduction to Tibet.
Deity: Dorje Shugden (Tibetan)
Alternative name: Vajra Rudra (Sanskrit)
Dorje Shugden is an emanation of the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri. He took the form of a Dharma Protector in order to safeguard the Buddha’s teachings, especially the important teachings on the Middle Way View. Reminiscent of Manjushri’s form, Dorje Shugden carries a meandering sword and rides a snowlion that represents the fearlessness of a fully enlightened Buddha. Thus, he has great strength to overcome obstacles of the body, speech and mind, and create suitable conditions for our spiritual practice to flourish. Furthermore, he carries a jewel-spitting mongoose and a vajra hook to symbolise that he has the tremendous ability to bestow wealth and resources.
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It is great to be able to see the picture of the great Shantarakshita. He is one of the important person to spread the dharma in Tibet and assisting King Trisong Detsen (2nd Dharma King). Also he has ordained the first 7 monks in Tibet. Great effort has been put in to bring the dharma to Tibet and because of all these great effort we are able to learn and practise Tibetan Buddhism here in Malaysia.