Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Indian Adept (siddha) - Virupa

རྒྱ་གར་གྱི་གྲུབ་ཆེན། 印度大成就者
(item no. 30932)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1500 - 1599
Lineages Sakya and Buddhist
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Private
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Person

Appearance: Mahasiddha

Gender: Male

TBRC: bdr:P3293

Interpretation / Description

Virupa, Yogeshwara (Tibetan: bir wa pa, nel jor wang chug. English: Ugly One, Lord of Yoga) foremost in magical attainments, from the famous group of Eighty-four Mahasiddhas of India, prominent lineage teacher for the Tantric meditational systems of Hevajra, Vajrayogini, Rakta Yamari, Rakta Jambhala and others.

"The Guru instantly [appears] above a lotus and moon [seat], as Virupa, black in colour, frightful, with a beard and chest hair, a garland of skulls and bone ornaments, in the [physical] appearance of stopping the sun." (Po Mar, folio 351).

"Reversing the Ganga and subduing the evil king; while holding the sun - drinking the liquor of the entire country, without being drunk; completely shattering the Linga and subduing the Chandali; to the renowned Lord of Power, I bow my head." (Sakya liturgical verse).

Jeff Watt 2-2013

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