The Extraordinary Indian Prince, Siddhartha Gautama
Buddha Shakyamuni Under the Bodhi Tree (Main figure)
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(Top to bottom): Buddha Shakyamuni and Dorje Shugden
Deity: Buddha Shakyamuni (Sanskrit)
Alternative name: Sangye Shakya Tubpa (Tibetan)
Shakyamuni is the historical Buddha who founded Buddhism in ancient India about 2,500 years ago. After an exhaustive search, he finally attained perfect and complete enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya. His teachings became the basis for the Buddhist faith and he proclaimed that he was not the only one who achieved this state and revealed that there are other fully awakened beings that we can rely on.
All of the Buddha’s teachings are based on the Four Noble Truths, which he established in his first sermon to explain the basis of our existence. He is depicted sitting in the Vajra position with his legs in the pose of full meditation. His body is said to bear the 112 marks of a fully enlightened Buddha according to the ancient Indian belief of a Chakravartin or Universal Monarch. Buddha Shakyamuni is normally depicted in the Bhumisparsha mudra, otherwise known as the earth-touching mudra with his right hand and the other hand cradling a begging bowl.
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.
Click here for more beautiful thangkas.
For more interesting information:
- The Dorje Shugden category on the blog
- Must Watch: Powerful Explanations on Dharma Protectors
- Black Tara – The Wrathful Protectress
- Mahasiddha Tilopa – the Chakrasamvara Master
- Guhya Manjushri – the Secret Form of Wisdom
- Five Extraordinary Visions of Lama Tsongkhapa
- The Mahasiddha Kukkuripa and His Dog
- Lords of Purification – 35 Confessional Buddhas
- Manjushri Nagarakshasa – The Naga Deity
- Janguli – The Goddess that Protects from Snakes
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Shakyamuni Buddha is the founder of the Buddhist religion. Born as the crown prince of the great Shakya Kingdom 2,500 years ago.He forgo everything living luxury in the palace to find the causes of suffering and the means to overcome it. After a long spiritual search he went into deep meditation, self-deprivation, and finally he become an enlightened one. Soon his teachings became the basis for the Buddhist faith. In this beautiful thangka as depicted with Dorje Shugden who is an emanation of the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri, in order to safeguard the Buddha’s teachings.