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, white in colour, with three faces and six hands embracing the consort; the two main hands are folded in front holding a wheel and vase. The remaining right hands hold a vajra and a stick with a flayed human skin. The left hold a bell and lasso. The blue two armed consort holds a conch shell and a banner. Standing on four prone forms, a sun disc and blue lotus seat, they are surrounded by the brightly burning orange and red flames of pristine awareness fire.

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