Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Indian Adept (siddha) - (multiple figures)

རྒྱ་གར་གྱི་གྲུབ་ཆེན། 印度大成就者
(item no. 87232)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1700 - 1799
Lineages Buddhist
Size 82.50x55.80cm (32.48x21.97in)
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Catalogue # acc.# 67.834, Gift of John Goelet
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Person

Interpretation / Description

Saraha, Dombi Heruka, Naropa and Virupa: from the group of Eighty-four great mahasiddha of India according to the system of Vajrasana.

"In the form of dancer, in the Brahmin race, On the glorious mountain, Received the attainments; To the teacher known as Saraha, I bow (5)

Spreading a mat to cross the Ganges, Riding a tiger, Received the attainments; To the teacher known as Dombi Heruka, I bow. (7)

Stopping and reversing the great river, Grasping the sun and Putting it in the navel; To the teacher known as Virupa, I bow. (8)

Of the Moon race, Receiving the attainments, Together with a Padmini; To the teacher known as Sararuhavajra, I bow. (6)" ( Verses from the Praise of the Eighty-four Mahasiddha by Vajrasana, 11th century).

Jeff Watt 4-2001 (revised 1-2006)

Front of Painting
English Translation of Inscription: Four four-line verses, one for each mahasiddha.

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