Item: Heruka (Nyingma)

Padma Vajra 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

'...Padma Vajra, bright red, three faces, red, blue, [and] white. In the right [hands] a vajra, sword [and] skullcup. In the left a bell, vase [and] katvanga. The Red Lady holds a drum and skullcup. In a posture having the nine expressions of dance. Poised on a lotus, moon and sun.' (Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro. Daily Practice of Lama Gongdü).

Wrathful in appearance, red in colour, with three faces and six hands he embraces the consort with the first pair. The outstretched right hands hold a vase and a sword. The two left hold a trident and a skullcup. The red two-armed consort holds a skullcup and a 'damaru' drum. Standing on two prone forms, a sun disc and multi-coloured lotus seat.

Wrathful figures surround the central pair. The red protector deity Tsi'u Marpo is at the bottom center accompanied by his brothers, all riding red horses.

At the top center is Padmasambhava flanked by two lama figures. There are no name inscriptions to help identify the two lamas.

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 [updated 11-2009]