THE SECRET STORY OF GURU PADMASAMBHAVA AND PRINCESS MANDARAVA

       

The Statue of Guru Padmasambhava

          "Om Ah Hum Vajra Gura Padma Sidhhi Hum"

              Who is guru Padmasambhava and Princess Mandarava these are the questions arising in your mind.  So here I am to quench your thirst of curiosity. Today I am taking you to a mythical journey of Himachal Pradesh one of the famous hill stations in India. 

Indian Map Showing Himachal Pradesh

                   To know the history of this mythical story we have to go to a place named Mandi also known as Sahor (In Tibetan Zahor). The hills and lakes of this place echoes the story of Guru Padmasambhava and Princess Mandarava till now. 

Himachal Pradesh

                   The Rewalsar lake of Mandi carry the legends of Buddhist history. Guru Padmasambhava known as Guru Rinpoche was the founder of Nyingma school. He is also called the second Buddha. He was born from a lotus blossom floating in a lake named Dhanakosha in Oddiyana kingdom (present Modern Swat valley of Pakistan).

A Painting of Guru Padmasambhava

                   Many myths are associated with Guru Padmasambhava. Among these myths the most famous story is of Guru Padmasambhava and princess Mandarava. Mandarava was the daughter of Vihardhara, the king of Zahor. The princess had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Many neighbouring kings wanted to marry her. But her aim was not the same, she wanted to unfold the real truth of life. 

A Painting of Princess Mandarava

                   Guru Padmasambhava was associated with Nalanda. He came to Himachal Pradesh to spread Lamaism. He spend most of the time of his life there. He was enlightened by penance here. He started the path of Vajrajan, a branch of Buddhism. His knowledge enlighten everyone and touched the heart of princess Mandarava. 

The Rewalsar Lake of Mandi

                     The princess Mandarava wanted to be a disciple of him. But guru Padmasambhava did not accept her. But her extreme devotion made guru Padmasambhava to accept her as disciple. She learned Vajrajanism from him. It is a tantric form of Buddhism. They used to go from one place to another by miracle. The also had the power to make their thoughts real. 

The Cave Where Guru Padmasambhava Used to Teach

                   The kings of Himachal Pradesh was core Hindu so they couldn't accept the Buddhism at first. The king became very angry but he could not stop his sixteen years daughter. He couldn't find any way but to captive the Princess. But the princess used to go to the cave by her miraculous power even in her captive state. 

The Idol of Guru Padmasambhava

                   She became the consort of guru Padmasambhava. Their relationship was not like normal people. Her actual aim was to understand the core concept of Vajrajanism. They used to perform tantric ritual being naked. This type of tantric ritual is called Bamachari tantra. The princess was enlightened in the Maratika cave ( present in Nepal). 

Maratika Cave of Nepal

                  The villagers could not understand this Tantric ritual. They found it very shameful because they were not used to this type of tantric ritual. They went to the king to complain about his daughter. The king became very angry and started thinking guru Padmasambhava to be a fake. He condemned the princess. But the princess did not listen to her father. 

An Idol Of Princess Mandarava

                 The king could not find any other way to protect his glory. So he threw the princess in a dark deep well to die. He also burned guru Padmasambhava alive. The body of guru Padmasambhava kept burning for seven days and the smoke kept arising from the body. On the eighth day he regenerated from a lotus flower. Princess Mandarava also gained the power of guru Padmasambhava and she was also fine in the well for so many days. 

A Blooming Lotus Flower

                The king became aware of his mistake and he gave his daughter to guru Padmasambhava. Princess Mandarava emanation of Vajravarahi's body and she became the female guru deity of Vajrajan.  A temple is situated in Mandi named Kuan Rani Temple and she spread Vajrajan Buddhism in Himachal Pradesh. A Buddhist momastry is also situated in Mandi in the honour of guru Padmasambhava. 

The Monastery of Guru Padmasambhava

Idol of Princess Mandarava in Kuan Rani Temple