Himalayan Art Resources

Subject: Heruka Meaning & Forms

Meditational Deities

Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Description (below)
--- Sarma (below)
--- Nyingma
- Outline Page
- Tibetans with Heruka Appearance
- Bone Ornaments
- Masterworks
- Confusions
- Others...

Videos:
- Heruka (General)
- Nyingma Heruka Deities
- Bone Ornaments

Uses of the Word Heruka:
- The name of a class of male deities Nyingma
- The name of a class of male deities in Sarma
- A male Tantric deity
- A term indicating a class of male deities with one face, two hands, with or without a consort
- A term referring to a mode of dress and adornment also known as Siddha Appearance
- Others...

Examples of Heruka Deities:
- Eight Heruka Main Page
- Buddhakapala
- Chakrasamvara
- Guhyasamaja
- Heruka Manjughosha
- Hevajra
- Kalachakra
- Mahamaya
- Vajrabhairava
- Others...

Heruka is a Sanskrit word that has a number of different meanings depending on the tantra in which it is used. In the Tibetan language the word heruka is translated as 'drag tung' which means 'blood drinker.' When the term heruka is used in art and iconography it generally has three different meanings as found below.

In the Nyingma (Old) Tradition Heruka generally refers to any male-meditational deity, wrathful in appearance, typically with three faces, six arms, four legs, wings and a consort. There are eight famous Nyingma Heruka deities. Some deities with a semi-peaceful - semi-wrathful appearance, arising from specific Revealed Treasure Traditions, may also be referred to as Heruka.

In the Sarma (New) Traditions of Sakya, Kagyu, Jonang and others, the term Heruka typically refers to any complex Anuttarayoga male-meditational deity, peaceful or wrathful, that appears in a simplified form with one face, two arms and a consort.

In the Gelug Tradition (also belonging to the Sarma) the term Heruka almost exclusively refers to the complex meditational deity Chakrasamvara in all aspects.

Jeff Watt 1-2010 [updated 6-2017, 11-2018]

(The images below are only a selection of examples selected from the links above).