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.

'...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).

Sanskrit: Heruka Tibetan: Drag tung

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 'damara' drum. Standing on two prone forms, a sun disc and multi-coloured lotus seat.

Eight pairs of seated semi-wrathful figures surround the central figure. At the top center is Amitabha Buddha. and at the bottom is a wrathful deity.

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 11-2010]