Item: Indian Adept (siddha) - Virupa
| Origin Location | Tibet |
|---|---|
| Date Range | 1800 - 1899 |
| Lineages | Buddhist |
| Material | Ground: Paper |
| Collection | Field Museum of Natural History |
Virupa block print image from the Labrang region of Amdo, Tibet.
Virupa, the Lord of Yoga, 9th century (Tibetan: bir wa pa, nal jor wang chug): foremost in magical attainments amongst the 84 mahasiddhas of India.
"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).
Virupa is included in all of the popular sets of the Eighty-four Mahasiddhas. He has many forms as well as standardized characteristics and features which can include colour, posture (asana), hand gestures (mudras), objects in the hands or on the body, and so on. In the Sakya tradition Virupa has six general forms with different postures and hand gestures, and can appear in three variations of colour depending on those six forms. The form of Virupa with the right hand raised in a wrathful gesture is called 'the posture holding the sun.'
Jeff Watt 11-2010
Indian Adept: Virupa (Right Pointing Gesture)
Collection of the Field Museum (Sakya)
Collection of the Field Museum of Natural History (Block Prints)
Indian Adept: Virupa Main Page
Indian Adept: Virupa (Block Prints)
Indian Adept (Mahasiddha): Painting (Late Period 17th to the Present)