Guru Rinpoche (Guru Shantarakshita) day

Guru Rinpoche day is considered one of the auspicious days in the lunar calendar and falls on the 10th day of each lunar month. On this day, the 10th day of the Dragon Month, Guru Padmasambhava renounced his kingdom, practised austerities, yoga and meditation in the great cemetery of Sitavana, the Cool Forest. With a gathering of Dakinis and Matrikas under his power, he became known as Guru Shantarakshita, The Guru Who is the Guardian of Peace. This manifestation of Guru Rinpoche should not be confused with Guru Rinpoche’s contemporary, also named Shantarakshita, who was an Indian abbot, scholar, and great master who invited Padmasambhava to Tibet to remove obstacles and who also contributed greatly to the flourishing of Buddha Dharma in Tibet.