Yangdak Heruka: Difference between revisions

From Rigpa Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Image:TNYangdak.jpg|thumb|Yangdak Heruka from the thangka of [[Tendrel Nyesel]]]]
[[Image:TNYangdak.jpg|thumb|Yangdak Heruka from the thangka of [[Tendrel Nyesel]]]]
'''Yangdak Heruka''' ([[Wyl.]] ''yang dag heruka''), '''Vishuddha Heruka''' or '''Shri Heruka''' (Skt. ''Viśuddhaheruka'', or ''Śrī Heruka'') is one of the eight deities of [[Kagyé]], where he corresponds to Enlightened Mind. The wrathful manifestation of Vajrasattva, he is similar to the deity known as [[Chakrasamvara]] (Tib. ''Demchok''), practised in the [[Sarma]] tradition. It is said that all the deities of the [[Mother Tantras]] are included in the practice of Yangdak.
'''Yangdak Heruka''' ([[Wyl.]] ''yang dag heruka''), '''Vishuddha Heruka''' or '''Shri Heruka''' (Skt. ''Viśuddhaheruka'', or ''Śrī Heruka'') is one of the eight deities of [[Kagyé]], corresponding to the Enlightened Mind. Yangdak Heruka is wrathful manifestation of Vajrasattva and is similar to the deity known as [[Chakrasamvara]] (Tib. ''Demchok''), practised in the [[Sarma]] tradition. Yangdak Heruka is said that all the deities of the [[Mother Tantras]] are included in the practice of Yangdak. Yangdak Heruka was the main [[yidam deity]] of the Vidyadhara [[Humkara]] his Tibetan disciple [[Namkhé Nyingpo]].


The instructions related to Yangdak are based on the so-called "eight syllables of the ''rulu'' mantra".<ref>See Kongtrul (2005), pp. 322-323</ref>
The instructions related to Yangdak are based on the so-called "eight syllables of the ''rulu'' mantra".<ref>See Kongtrul (2005), pp. 322-323</ref>
Line 7: Line 7:


==A Note on the Name==
==A Note on the Name==
''Yangdak Heruka'' is often translated back into Sanskrit as ''Vishudda Heruka''. The Sanskrit term ''Vishudda'' means ''pure'' and is usually rendered by Tibetans as ''Namdak'' ([[Wyl.]] ''rnam dag''). The Tibetan term ''Yangdak'', however in Sanskrit usually translates: a) an ''upsarga'' like ''sam'', b) an adverb like ''samyak'' (Eng. ''perfect, total, complete''), or c) an adjective or an epithet, such as ''shri''. ''Yangdak Heruka'' was the main yidam deity of both the Humkara and the Tibetan [[Namkhé Nyingpo]]. Humkara wrote three Sadhanas preserved in the Tibetan Tengyur dedicated to Shri Heruka (D 1674, D 1675 & D 1678). One of these Sadhanas (D 1678) was translated into Tibetan by Namkhe Nyingpo. The title of this Sadhana contains ''Yangdak'', and is dedicated to ''Shri Heruka'' ([[Wyl.]] ''dpal khrag 'thung''). Although this may not be a conclusive argument, it suggests that the name of ''Yangdak Heruka'' in Sanskrit is ''Shri Heruka''. Another possibility, that may speak in favour for ''Vishuddha Heruka'' is that ''Shri'' just means ''glorious'' and is an epithet used for many deities. This would imply that the deity is simply referred to as ''Glorious Heruka'', while its actual name is different.
''Yangdak Heruka'' is often translated back into Sanskrit as ''Vishudda Heruka''. The Sanskrit term ''Vishudda'' means ''pure'' and is usually rendered by Tibetans as ''Namdak'' ([[Wyl.]] ''rnam dag''). The Tibetan term ''Yangdak'', however in Sanskrit usually translates: a) an ''upsarga'' like ''sam'', b) an adverb like ''samyak'' (Eng. ''perfect, total, complete''), or c) an adjective or an epithet, such as ''shri''. Humkara wrote three Sadhanas preserved in the Tibetan Tengyur dedicated to Shri Heruka (D 1674, D 1675 & D 1678). One of these Sadhanas (D 1678) was translated into Tibetan by Namkhe Nyingpo. The title of this Sadhana contains ''Yangdak'', and is dedicated to ''Shri Heruka'' ([[Wyl.]] ''dpal khrag 'thung''). Although this may not be a conclusive argument, it suggests that the name of ''Yangdak Heruka'' in Sanskrit is ''Shri Heruka''. Another possibility, that may speak in favour for ''Vishuddha Heruka'' is that ''Shri'' just means ''glorious'' and is an epithet used for many deities. This would imply that the deity is simply referred to as ''Glorious Heruka'', while its actual name is different.


==Notes==
==Notes==
Line 13: Line 13:


==Further Reading==
==Further Reading==
*Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé, ''The Treasury of Knowledge: Systems of Buddhist Tantra'', Ithaca: Snow Lion, 2005
*Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé, ''The Treasury of Knowledge: Systems of Buddhist Tantra'', Ithaca: Snow Lion, 2005.
 
* Lo Bue, E. “The Role of Newar Scholars in Transmitting the Indian Buddhist Heritage to Tibet.” In ''Les habitants du toit du monde. Hommage ά Alexander W. Macdonald,'' ed. Karmay, et Sagant. Nanterre: Société d’ ethnologie, 1997: 629 - 658.


[[Category:Buddhas and Deities]]
[[Category:Buddhas and Deities]]
[[Category:Kagyé]]
[[Category:Kagyé]]

Revision as of 10:03, 17 September 2016

Yangdak Heruka from the thangka of Tendrel Nyesel

Yangdak Heruka (Wyl. yang dag heruka), Vishuddha Heruka or Shri Heruka (Skt. Viśuddhaheruka, or Śrī Heruka) is one of the eight deities of Kagyé, corresponding to the Enlightened Mind. Yangdak Heruka is wrathful manifestation of Vajrasattva and is similar to the deity known as Chakrasamvara (Tib. Demchok), practised in the Sarma tradition. Yangdak Heruka is said that all the deities of the Mother Tantras are included in the practice of Yangdak. Yangdak Heruka was the main yidam deity of the Vidyadhara Humkara his Tibetan disciple Namkhé Nyingpo.

The instructions related to Yangdak are based on the so-called "eight syllables of the rulu mantra".[1]

In the Longchen Nyingtik, the Yangdak practice related to Palchen Düpa is called "Union Of The Buddhas" (yang dag sangs rgyas mnyam sbyor).

A Note on the Name

Yangdak Heruka is often translated back into Sanskrit as Vishudda Heruka. The Sanskrit term Vishudda means pure and is usually rendered by Tibetans as Namdak (Wyl. rnam dag). The Tibetan term Yangdak, however in Sanskrit usually translates: a) an upsarga like sam, b) an adverb like samyak (Eng. perfect, total, complete), or c) an adjective or an epithet, such as shri. Humkara wrote three Sadhanas preserved in the Tibetan Tengyur dedicated to Shri Heruka (D 1674, D 1675 & D 1678). One of these Sadhanas (D 1678) was translated into Tibetan by Namkhe Nyingpo. The title of this Sadhana contains Yangdak, and is dedicated to Shri Heruka (Wyl. dpal khrag 'thung). Although this may not be a conclusive argument, it suggests that the name of Yangdak Heruka in Sanskrit is Shri Heruka. Another possibility, that may speak in favour for Vishuddha Heruka is that Shri just means glorious and is an epithet used for many deities. This would imply that the deity is simply referred to as Glorious Heruka, while its actual name is different.

Notes

  1. See Kongtrul (2005), pp. 322-323

Further Reading

  • Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé, The Treasury of Knowledge: Systems of Buddhist Tantra, Ithaca: Snow Lion, 2005.
  • Lo Bue, E. “The Role of Newar Scholars in Transmitting the Indian Buddhist Heritage to Tibet.” In Les habitants du toit du monde. Hommage ά Alexander W. Macdonald, ed. Karmay, et Sagant. Nanterre: Société d’ ethnologie, 1997: 629 - 658.