Item: Heruka (Nyingma)

Heruka (Tibetan: drag tung. English: Blood-drinker): from the Lama Gongdu Cycle of Revealed Treasure (Tibetan: ter ma) teachings of the Nyingma tradition.

Sanskrit: Heruka Tibetan: Drag tung

Wrathful in appearance, red in colour, with three faces and six hands, he embraces the consort. The two main hands are folded in front holding a red bead mala and the stem of a purple lotus blossoming over the left shoulder. The remaining right hands hold a flywhisk and a hook. The left hold a nectar filled bowl and a lasso. The pink two-armed consort holds a skullcup and a damaru drum. Standing on two prone forms, a sun disc and multi-coloured lotus seat, they are surrounded by the brightly burning orange and red flames of pristine awareness fire.

Eight main retinue figures surround the central pair. Minor figures stand in various dancing postures in the foreground. At the top left and right are lineage lamas wearing monastic robes and various hats.

Sanggye Lingpa (1340-1396) discovered the 'Middling Collection of Precepts, the Gathering of the Guru's Intention' (Tibetan: ka du bar wa la ma gong pa du pa) in the great cave of Puri Rinchen Barwa in the year 1364.

Jeff Watt 11-2000