Buddhist Guru Sculptures

The Guru in any religion is the one in charge of the propagation of the various beliefs and teachings that make up the foundation of the faith. Here are some of the most renowned and respected Buddhist Gurus-

1. Guru Drakpo: A fearsome embodiment of the savant Padmasambhava, Guru Drakpo, mounts a flaming aureole whilst clutching a black scorpion and the vajra, a ceremonial weapon. He is adorned with a wreath of chopped skulls and a crown fashioned of skulls. Guru Drakpo was a prominent guardian deity of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism in this furious meditation manifestation.

2. Guru Milarepa: He is acknowledged as being one of Tibet's most well-known yogis and poets of enlightenment, and his doctrines are well-known to several schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He was a Marpa Lotsawa disciple and an important figure in the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism's past. He is famous for his accomplishment in conquering Mount Kailash. Milarepa, which equates to "Mila, the cotton-clad one," became his title. Later, Milarepa assumed the position of a touring instructor and attracted a significant audience, the two most well-known among which were Rechungpa and Gampopa.

3. Guru Marpa: Marpa Chökyi Lodrö was born into a wealthy family. In comparison to certain other kids, he was untamed and unrestrained when he initially started studying. Marpa initially learned Sanskrit for 3 years and received instruction from Drokmi Shakya Yeshe at Mangkhar. He made the choice to travel to India in order to learn about the dharma with eminent Indian buddhist masters. In order to reimburse for his travel costs and to offer sacrifices to his Indian masters for the requested lessons, Marpa returned back to Lhodrak and converted his whole fortune into gold. 

4. Guru Gampopa: Guru Gampopa was a prominent Tibetan Buddhist scholar, master, bearer of several Tibetan Buddhist traditions, and notable abbot. Most people seem to agree that Milarepa's top student was Gampopa. Continuing in his father's legacy, Gampopa first distinguished himself as a renowned doctor before transforming into a husband and father. He became a dedicated Milarepa disciple after the death of his close family and attained Enlightenment. Guru Gampopa was reared as Milarepa's "soul son." The Kagyu tradition in Tibetan Buddhism would later be established on the former's combination of Milarepa's insight meditation and various Tibetan Buddhist doctrines. The Rosary of Precious Stones, which Guru Gampopa composed, is arguably his greatest notable piece. Gampopa had a massive student body and taught extensively. He is indeed the founder of the primary, still-existing Kagyu sub-schools, collectively recognized as the Dagpo Kagyu. The "Four Main and Eight Secondary '' traditions of the Dhagpo Kagyu School developed following Gampopa. This phrase refers to the generational or temporal arrangement, not the importance, of the establishment of the institutions.

5. Guru Padmasambhava: Renowned Indian Buddhist guru Padmasambhava, also addressed as Guru Rimpoche, is believed to have brought Tantric Buddhism to Tibet and established the first Buddhist school there. Tantricist and Yogacara sect member Padmasambhava was a professor in Nalanda, an Indian hub for Buddhist teachings. He proceeded to Samye after receiving King Thi-srong-detsan's to tour Tibet. There, tradition has it that he banished devils that were hindering the construction of a Buddhist shrine by triggering earthquakes. With an emphasis on Tantric ritual, worship, and yoga, the Tibetan Buddhist sect Rnying-ma-pa purports to conform to Padmasambhava's teachings the most faithfully. Around 1125, texts important to the sect's teachings that have been allegedly buried by Padmasambhava began to show up. Furthermore, he had several Tantric texts transcribed into Tibetan from the native Sanskrit.

6. Guru Tshokey Dorje: One of Guru Rinpoche's Eight Embodiments is Guru Tsokye Dorje. One of the notable characteristics of Guru Rinpoche in this peaceful manifestation is that he is portrayed with a vajra at his core.

FAQS

Q1. Why is Guru Padmasambhava important in Buddhism?

Guru Padmasambhava is the main Guru of Buddhism. He is the highest mystic in the religion. It is widely believed that Padmasambhava established Buddhism in the Tibetan areas.

Q2. Did Gautama Buddha know about Padmasambhava’s existence?

In the Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra, Gautam Buddha prophesied his arrival. He told his devotees only one day before he achieved enlightenment that twelve years after his departure, "a remarkable person with the name Padmasambhava will appear in the heart of a lotus."

The figure of the guru features predominantly in the religions of the Orient, especially Buddhism. The Buddha himself was a teacher, and after him came a long line of great masters of Buddhist thought and religion. Guru Padmasambhava from Kashmir (where he is known as Guru Rinpoche) is arguably the most popular of them all in the present day. Other such Buddhist masters hail from all across the subcontinent - Nepal, Tibet, and Northern and Eastern India. Exotic India's collection of Buddhist guru sculptures comes in a superb variety of make and finish. From glossy statues of Guru Rinpoche and the Buddha to intricately engraved gilded wall hangings, Exotic India has something or the other to appeal to your sense of aesthetics.