Shakyasimha

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Wall in the Lingyin Temple depicting Shakyasimha with a sealed heart by the swastika^[1].

The lion, as king of all beasts, is a symbol of Shakyamuni Buddha - who is also known Shakyasimha (Tib. Sakyasenge), the 'Lion of the Sakya Clan'^[2]. The lion is therefore one of the prime symbols of Buddhism itself^[3]. Like a Buddha, Padmasambhava as the Second Buddha, is also called Shakyasimha^[4]. The 'lotus-born' guru Padmakara (Tib. Pema Jungne, also Padmasambhava), who was revered throughout the Himalayan world as Second Buddha, introduced the most advanced meditative practices of Mahayoga and Atiyoga from Oddiyana and India into Tibet and Bhutan during the eight century. On the 10th day of the second lunar month, guru Padmakara received two names: Shakyasimha and Matiman Vararuci (Loden Chokse)^[5].