Prior to the 6th century, "Tibet" was essentially the home of nomadic peoples and valley kingdoms. Padmasambhava, the subject of this painting, was a tantric adept from a region in northwest India/Pakistan. He was invited to Tibet in the eighth century to subjugate local demons hostile to Buddhism. Padmasambhava is easily identified by his distinctive hat decorated with an eagle's feather, by the implements (chopper and skull cup) he holds, and by his khatvanga staff surmounted by three skulls and a half-vajra. Padmasambhava's two primary consorts stand to either his side. The Indian princess, Mandarava, offers him a vase containing the elixir of life; the Tibetan queen, Yeshe Tsogyal, holds up a skull cup. Padmasambhava's eight additional manifestations surround the three central figures. Directly above Padmasambhava's head is the red Buddha Amitabha, the direct progenitor of both Avelokiteshvara and Padmasambhava. Two of Padmasambhava's primary forms are illustrated on either side of Buddha Amitabha: to the left is Loden Chogsed who embodies the external abilities of Amitabha, the internal realizations of Avelokiteshvara, and the secret power of Hayagriva. To Amitabha's right is Padma Gyalpo, holding a drum in his right hand and a mirror in his left. In the upper right corner, is Padmasambhava's form Shakya Senge in which he resembles Buddha Shakyamuni. Along the right side, there are three figures: Nyima Odzer who is able to stop the passage of the sun with his out-stretched hand; a monk patron of the Nyingma Order founded by Padmasambhava; and the Princess Mandarava. The three figures along the bottom edge show the wrathful forms of Padmasambhava. Dorje Drolo stands on a tiger. In his raised right hand, he holds a vajra to overpower appearance and in his left a phurpa to stab attraction, aversion and indifference. In the center, Guru Drakpo brandishes a scorpion in his left hand; and in the left corner, Senge Dradog has the voice of a lion to proclaim the reality of the non-dual state. Proceeding upward along the left side, are: Queen Yeshe Tsogyal, Padmasambhava's primary consort; another monk patron; and Guru Urgyan Dorje Chang, Padmasambhava in his form of a blue male in union with a white female. Lastly, at the top left corner, Padmasambhava appears in the form of Padma Jungne, a scholar monk in the style of Buddha's disciple Ananda.