Mandala of the Medicine Buddha

I started painting the Mandala of the Medicine Buddha the 1st of August 2015, in a summer course of my thangka teacher Andy Weber, and finally finished it on 14 December 2023. It has been a long (and sometimes very bumpy) road to finish it but it can finally be shared with the world. Thank you to all my supporters, backers and – last but not least – Andy, who’s never-ending support and encouragement, and deep knowledge of Buddhist iconography was indispensable for creating and finalizing this Mandala.

The Mandala not only contains all the figures in high detail but you can download all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Guardians and Generals as separate images as well.

If you like my work and want to support me, consider becoming my patron. If you rather want to give a one-time donation, you can offer it through PayPal.

Note: Some of the images that are not specific to the Mandala of the Medicine Buddha can be found in My Digital Thangkas.

Mandala of the Medicine Buddha

Mandala of the Medicine Buddha Final (963 downloads ) (54,1 MB)

Mandala of the Medicine Buddha

Eight* Medicine Buddhas

* Only 6 are shown here, the others are the Medicine Buddha and Buddha Shakyamuni, available here.

Buddha Delightful King of Clear Knowing

Buddha Delightful King of Clear Knowing (420 downloads ) (22,8 MB)

Buddha Delightful King of Clear Knowing (Ngön.khyen gyäl.po), whose body is ruby red in colour, his right hand in the mudra of supreme giving and his left hand in the mudra of meditation.

Buddha Melodious Ocean of Proclaimed Dharma

Buddha Melodious Ocean of Proclaimed Dharma (430 downloads )  (14, 8 MB)

Buddha Melodious Ocean of Proclaimed Dharma (Chö.drag gya.tso yang), with a white-coloured body, his right hand in the mudra of expounding the Dharma and his left hand in the mudra of teaching.

Buddha Stainless Excellent Gold

Buddha Stainless Excellent Gold (373 downloads )  (14, 8 MB)

Buddha Stainless Excellent Gold (Ser.zang dri.me), gold in colour, his right hand in the mudra of expounding the Dharma and his left hand in the mudra of teaching.

Buddha King of Melodious Sound

Buddha King of Melodious Sound (383 downloads )  (14, 7 MB)

Buddha King of Melodious Sound, Brilliant Radiance of Skill, Adorned with Jewels, Moon, and Lotus (Dra.yang.gyi gyäl.po), yellow in colour with his right hand in the mudra of supreme giving and his left hand in the mudra of meditation.

Buddha Supreme Glory Free from Sorrow

Buddha Supreme Glory Free from Sorrow (365 downloads )  (14, 7 MB)

Buddha Supreme Glory Free from Sorrow (Nga.nän.me Chö.päl), maroon pink in colour with both hands in the mudra of meditation.

Buddha Glorious Renown of Excellent Signs

Buddha Glorious Renown of Excellent Signs (390 downloads )  (14, 8 MB)

Buddha Glorious Renown of Excellent Signs (Tsen.led yong.drag.päl), gold in colour with his right hand in the mudra of bestowing and his left hand in the mudra of meditation.

16 Bodhisattvas

Manjushri

Manjushri (5878 downloads ) (28,0 MB)

Manjushri

Manjushri is a bodhisattva associated with prajñā (transcendent wisdom). He belongs to the three protective bodhisattvas surrounding the Buddha. Manjushri manifests all the Buddha’s wisdom, Avalokiteśvara all the Buddha’s immense compassion, and Vajrapāni all the Buddha’s power. The veera (lute) displayed is a reference to Manjushri’s consort Saraswati. She is often depicted playing one, while riding a swan, hence the swan’s head at the top of the lute.

2-Armed Avalokiteshvara

16 Bodhisattvas: 2-Armed Avalokiteśhvara (386 downloads ) (23,4 MB)

Avalokiteshvara is the bodhisattva of Compassion. The Dalai Lamas are said to be the incarnation of this deity. This is the second of the 16 bodhisattvas in the second ring of petals of the Mandala of the Medicine Buddhas, Manjushri being the first one.

Peaceful Vajrapani

16 Bodhisattvas: Peaceful Vajrapāni (367 downloads ) (23,2 MB)

Vajrapāni is the protector and guide of Gautama Buddha. Usually he is portrayed in a wrathful pose, but the Mandala contains his peaceful emanation. He is extensively represented in Buddhist iconography as one of the earliest three protective deities or bodhisattvas surrounding the Buddha. Each of them symbolizes one of the Buddha’s virtues: Mañjuśrī manifests all the Buddha’s wisdom, Avalokiteśvara manifests all the Buddha’s immense compassion, and Vajrapāni protects the Buddha and manifests all the Buddha’s power as well as the power of all five tathāgatas.

Nyi.Nang

16 Bodhisattvas: Nyi.Nang (347 downloads ) (23,5 MB)

The fourth bodhisattva in the second ring of petals, holding a sun on a lotus flower.

Da.Nang

16 Bodhisattvas: Da.Nang (365 downloads ) (23,5 MB)

The fifth bodhisattva in the second ring of petals, holding the moon on  a lotus flower.

Lodro Chenpo

16 Bodhisattvas: Lodro Chenpo (172 downloads ) (23,5 MB)

The sixth bodhisattva in the second ring of petals, holding a lotus flower with the eye of the Buddha. 

Maitreya

16 Bodhisattvas: Maitreya (350 downloads ) (23,5 MB)

Maitreya, the seventh bodhisattva in the second ring of petals. He is holding a naga pushpa flower, showing only the buds. This symbolizes his appearance in the future, bringing pure dharma and freeing all sentient beings from samsara.
A more common form of Maitreya is the one sitting on a throne.

Kyab.Dol

16 Bodhisattvas: Kyab.Dol (174 downloads ) (27,5 MB)

Kyab.Dol

The eighth bodhisattva in the second ring of petals, holding three dharma treasure books.
His mudra is called the mushti mudra; doing this will release negative, pent-up emotions.
It also is said to help with digestion (and its related problems)

Popa.Tsekpa

16 Bodhisattvas: Popa.Tsekpa (334 downloads ) (27,4 MB)

Popa.Tsekpa

The nineth bodhisattva in the second ring of petals, holding an incense vase.

Nanpar Nonpa

16 Bodhisattvas: Nanpar Nonpa (339 downloads ) (23,2 MB)

Nanpar Nonpa

The tenth bodhisattva in the second ring of petals, holding a sword that cuts through the veils of ignorance, severing the knots of illusion that bind beings to delusion and obscure the absolute truth.

Tanaduk

16 Bodhisattvas: Tanaduk (315 downloads ) (23,0 MB)

Tanaduk

The eleventh bodhisattva in the second ring of petals, holdinga book on a lotus.

Jompa Lodro

16 Bodhisattvas: Jompa Lodro (332 downloads ) (23,6 MB)

Jompa Lodro

The twelfth bodhisattva in the second ring of petals, holding a club symbolizing the pounding or annihilation of the veil of defilements created by karma.

Sampalepa

16 Bodhisattvas: Sampalepa (308 downloads ) (23,5 MB)

Sampalepa

The thirteenth bodhisattva in the second ring of petals.

Lhunpo Tseg

16 Bodhisattvas: Lhunpo Tseg (319 downloads ) (23,3 MB)

Lhunpo Tseg

The fourteenth bodhisattva in the second ring of lotus petals.

Sang Sangpo Yang

16 Bodhisattvas: Lhunpo Chenpo Tenzin (319 downloads ) (23,4 MB)

Sang Sangpo Yang

The fifteenth bodhisattva in the second ring of lotus petals.

Lhunpo Chenpo Tenzin

16 Bodhisattvas: Sang Sangpo Yang (312 downloads ) (23,4 MB)

Lhunpo Chenpo Tenzin

The sixteenth (and last) bodhisattva in the second ring of lotus petals.

10 Directional Guardians

Brahma

10 Directional Guardians – Brahma (352 downloads ) (11,5 MB)

Brahma

The Hindu deity Brahma, first Directional Guardian in the outer ring of lotus petals. Although he is usually protrayed riding a swan in Hindo iconography, here he is riding a goose.

Indra

Directional Guardians – Indra (354 downloads ) (11,4 MB)

Indra

Indra riding a white elephant, the second Directional Guardian in the outer ring of lotus petals.

Agni (Me.Lha)

Agni (Me.Lha) (345 downloads ) (12,2 MB)

Agni (Me.Lha in Tibetan), the Hindu Fire God, the third Directional Guardian in the outer ring of lotus petals.

Yama

Yama (339 downloads ) (12,2 MB)

Yama, the Hindu god of Death, the fourth Directional Guardian.

Raksha (Sin.Po)

Raksha (Sin.Po) (346 downloads ) (10,0 MB)

Raksha, riding a zombie, the fifth Directional Guardian. He occupies the southwestern petal of the outer ring of the Mandala of the Medicine Buddha.

Varuna (Chu.Lha)

Varuna (Chu.Lha) (351 downloads ) (10,0 MB)

Varuna

Varuna, Lord of the Sea, riding a makara, the sixth Directional Guardian in the west of the Mandala of the Medicine Buddha.

Vaju Deva (Lung.Lha)

Vaju Deva (Lung.Lha) (329 downloads ) (24,0 MB)

Vaju Deva

Vaju Deva, Lord of the Winds, riding a deer, guarding the northwest direction of the Mandala.

Yaksha (Nö.Jin)

Yaksha (347 downloads ) (10,3 MB)

General Yaksha (Nö.Jin), accompanied by a small army of two soldiers.

Ishvara (Wang.Den)

Ishvara (343 downloads ) (9,4 MB)

Ishvara (Wang.Den)

Ishvara (Wang.Den), the ninth Directional Guardian of the Mandala, protecting the north-east.

Sai.Lhamo

Sai.Lhamo (359 downloads ) (9,7 MB)

Sai_Lhamo

Sai.Lhamo, the tenth Directional Guardian of the Mandala, protecting the west.

 

12 Generals

Jijik

Jijik (333 downloads ) (8,8 MB)

Jijik

Jijik, the first General, carrying a vajra.

Dorje

Dorje (310 downloads ) (8,9 MB)

Dorje

Dorje, the second General, carrying a sword.

Gyen.Dzin

Gyen Jin (335 downloads ) (8,7 MB)

Gyen Jin

Gyen.Dzin, the third General, carrying a club.

Za.Dzin

Za Dzin (328 downloads ) (8,8 MB)

Za.Dzin

Za.Dzin, the fourth General, carrying a club.

Lung.Dzin

Lung Dzin (315 downloads ) (9 MB)Lung Dzin

 Lung.Dzin, the fifth General, carrying a trident.

Na.Che

Na Che (323 downloads ) (8,7 MB)

Na Che

Na.Che, the sixth General, carrying a sword.

Wang.Dzin

Wang Dzin (332 downloads ) (8,9 MB)

Wang.Dzin

Wang.Dzin, the seventh General, carrying a club.

Tung.Dzin

Tung Dzin (336 downloads ) (8,9 MB)

Tung Dzin

Tung.Dzin, the eighth General, carrying a club.

Ma.Dzin

Ma Dzin (318 downloads ) (8,8 MB)

Ma Dzin

Ma.Dzin, the ninth General, carrying an axe.

Sam.Dzin

Sam Dzin (336 downloads ) (8,9 MB)

Sam.Dzin

Sam.Dzin, the tenth General, carrying a lasso.

Yowa.Dzin

Dzog Ye (308 downloads ) (8,9 MB)

Yowa Dzin

Yowa.Dzin, the eleventh General, carrying a club.

Dzog.Ye

Yowa Dzin (322 downloads ) (8,6 MB)

Dzog Ye

Dzog Ye, the twelfth General, carrying a dharma wheel.

4 Guardians of the Gates

Virupaksa

Virupaksa (348 downloads ) (10,6 MB)

Virupaksa

Virupaksa, the Guardian of the West Gate. In Tibetan iconography this is the gate at the top.

Vaisravana

Vaisravana (370 downloads ) (10,5 MB)

Vaisravana

Vaisravana, the Guardian of the North Gate, the gate at the right side of the mandala.

Dhutanasta

Dhutanasta (352 downloads ) (9,8 MB)

Dhutanasta

Dhutanasta, the Guardian of the East Gate, the gate at the bottom of the mandala.

Virudhaka

Virudhaka (364 downloads ) (9,7 MB)

Virudhaka

Virudhaka, the Guardian of the South Gate, the gate at the left side of the mandala.