8 Medicine Buddha

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Eight Medicine Buddhas & Yuthog Yonten Gonpo

Medicine Buddha (Bhaisajyaguru) – Lapis lazuli blue, seated cross-legged. Right hand in Varada Mudra, holding a myrobalan plant; left hand in Alms Bowl Mudra, holding a bowl of healing nectar.

Shakyamuni Buddha – Golden-hued, seated cross-legged. Right hand in Bhumisparsha Mudra (earth-touching); left hand holds a bowl.

Suparakirtita Nama Shri – Golden, seated in meditation. Abhaya Mudra (right), Dhyana Mudra (left), hands near the chest.

Nirgosa Raja – Golden-yellow/light green, seated in meditation. Abhaya Mudra (right), Dhyana Mudra (left).

Buddha Abhijna Raja – Coral red, seated cross-legged. Varada Mudra (right), Dhyana Mudra (left).

Ashokattam Shri – Crimson red, seated in Dhyana Mudra with hands resting on lap (sometimes near the chest).

Dharma Kirti Sagara – White, seated in Dharmachakra Mudra (both hands at chest).

Vimla Ratna Prabhasha – Green, seated in Dharmachakra Mudra (both hands at chest).

At the bottom center, Yuthog Yonten Gonpo, the father of Tibetan medicine, is depicted as a sage-like figure. He holds a vase (left) symbolizing medical knowledge and a medicinal plant (right), representing natural healing. His presence embodies wisdom, healing, and the integration of Buddhist philosophy with medical science.

The 8 Medicine Buddha, known as Menlha Deshake Gye in Tibetan, each embodying different aspects of healing and wisdom. They are believed to provide specific benefits to practitioners who invoke their blessings: depicted Bhaisaijyaguru or Medicine Buddha, in the center, surrounded by his ‘six brothers’ and Shakyamuni Buddha.

1.Medicine Buddha sitting cross-legged and wearing a monastic robe, the blue or lapis lazuli color of his body.

Typically, he holds a branch of the myrobalan plant in his right hand, in the Varada Mudra posture or giving gesture. Myrobalan is a key ingredient in traditional Ayurvedic and Tibetan medicine, known for its therapeutic properties

In his left hand, he typically holds a bowl filled with healing nectar or medicine. The gesture of holding the bowl is known as the “Alms Bowl Mudra” or “Punya Varada Mudra,”.

2.Shakyamuni Buddha, depicted in a golden hue, sitting in cross-legged. makes the earth-touching motion with his right hand and holds a bowl in his left hands a bowl in the alms bowl mudra, located behind the Bhaisajyaguru, facing forward.

3.Suparakirtita Nama Shri, embodies the excellent fame and reputation attained through the practice of the Dharma. Typically depicted in a golden hue, seated in meditation posture, makes abhaya mudra with his right hand and dhyna mudra with his left hand, both hand gestures in front of his heart.

4. Nirgosa Raja, Represents the king who brings the end of suffering through the realization of emptiness. Depicted in a golden-yellow, seated in meditation posture

with his right hand in abhaya mudra, left hand in dhyna mudra.

5. Buddha Abhijna Raja, is the medicine king who has perfected the miraculous powers of healing. He is a coral red-colored seated in cross-legged in meditation posture, with his right hand in Varada Mudra, left hand in dhyna mudra.

6. Ashokattam shri, represents the auspicious banner of the Ashoka tree, symbolizing the eradication of suffering. He is a red or crimson-colored body, seated in meditative posture with dhyana mudra of reflective equilibrium with both hands resting on his lap.

7. Dharma Kirti Sagara embodies the ocean of Dharma, typically depicted seated in meditation posture, his body is white in color. both hands held at the chest with dharmachakra mudra.

8.Vimla Ratna Prabhasha, embodies the radiance of the flowless jewel, symbolizing the attainment of enlightenment and the dispelling of darkness and ignorance. Depicted in a green color, seated in meditation posture on a lotus throne, both hands held at the chest with dharmachakra mudra.

At the bottom center of the Eight Medicine Buddha Thangka, Yuthog Yonten Gonpo is revered as the father of Tibetan medicine, known for his profound contributions to the Four Tantras (Gyüzhi), the foundational text of Tibetan medical science. Seated in a meditative posture, he embodies wisdom, healing, and compassion.

In this depiction:

He holds a vase in his left hand, representing the healing nectar of Tibetan medicine and the deep reservoir of medical knowledge.
In his right hand, he holds a medicinal plant, symbolizing the use of natural remedies and holistic healing.

His calm and dignified presence signifies his role as a physician, teacher, and spiritual guide, embodying the integration of Buddhist philosophy with medical science to relieve suffering.