Samantabhadra

Samantabhadra is regarded as Adi-Buddha and as first Dhyani - Bodhisattva

Among the ancient Northern Buddhist sects and the unreformed Lamaist sects in Tibet, SAMANTABHADRA was looked upon as Highest Intelligence, a primordial Buddha, or Adi-Buddha. He is figured seated with the legs locked; but unlike the other representations of Adi-Buddha, he has neither crown nor ornaments, and in his esoteric form was represented nude in blue color embracing his Sakti [consort] in white color.

An Adi-Buddha infinite, omniscient, self-existing, without beginning and without end, the source and originator of all things, who by virtue of five sorts of wisdom [jnana] and by the exercise of five meditations [dhyana] evolved five Dhyani Buddhas. When this Adi-Buddha is represented with his female energy, he is called Yogambara and the sakti Digambara [Jnanesvari].

Certain Lamaist sects of later reformed Buddhism claim that Samantabhadra is the first Dhyani-Biddhisattva corresponding with five celestial Dhyani-Buddhas, and is one of the groups of eight Boddhisattava. As first Dhyani-Boddhisattva, he is represented with the crown, the ornaments, and princely garment of Boddhisattva, and holds his symbol, the cintamani, in his left hand, or it may be supported by blue lotus at his left shoulder. The right hand makes vitarka mudra: the hand raised - the thumb and index touching at the tips forming the 'triangular pose'. He may be either seated or standing; and is sometimes with his sakti ?in the yab-yum ?attitude.

When in group of eight Boddhisattva, he is standing with his hands in 'argument' and 'charity' mudra, holding the stems of lotus-flowers which support his special symbol, the cintamani, at the right, and an accessory symbol, the vajra, at the left. If painted, he is yellow.