Five Excellent Ones of Sublime Nobility

The Five Excellent Ones of Sublime Nobility (Wyl. dam pa’i rigs can dra ma lnga) who received the Mahayoga and Anuyoga tantras of the Nyingma tradition at the summit of Mount Malaya from Vajrapani were:

• the god Yashasvi Varapala (Skt. Yaśasvī Varapāla; Wyl. grags ldan mchog skyong)
• the naga king Takshaka (Skt. Takṣaka; Wyl. klu rgyal ’jog po)
• the yaksha Ulkamukha (Skt. Ulkāmukha; skar mda’ gdong)
• the rakshasa Matyaupayika (Skt. Matyaupāyika; Wyl. blo gros thabs ldan)
• the human being Licchavi Vimalakirti (Skt. Vimalakīrti; Wyl. dri med grags pa). Alternatively, according to some sources, the god Indra (Wyl. rig ’dzin lha dbang brgya sbyin) is listed in place of Vimalakirti.

Alternative Translations

• Five Noble Ones (Dorje & Kapstein)

Sources

• Kunzang Lamé Shyalung, pages 334 & 398.