This is a 16th century bronze figure of Padmasambhava from Tibet. Padmasambhava usually wears a mitre-hat, long sleeved robe, magic staff, vajra (dorje or thunderbolt) and a skull cup. He is believed to be an emanation of Amitabha Buddha (the Buddha in the Land of Ultimate Bliss). Padmasambhava is one of the two great teachers of Buddhism who arrived into Tibet during the 8th century at Samye, the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery established by Trisong Detsen, the great grandson of the first tsenpo (deified ruler) Songtsen Gampo.
