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The '''heruka''' ([[Wyl.]] ''he ru ka'') is a masculine deity, wrathful or semi-wrathful, who represents the dynamic union of [[compassion]] and [[skilful means]]. In the [[Nyingma]] tradition the term is often used to refer specifically to [[Chemchok Heruka]] or [[Yangdak]].
The '''heruka''' (Tib. ཧེ་རུ་ཀ་ or ཁྲག་འཐུང་, [[Wyl.]] ''he ru ka'' or ''khrag 'thung'')— another name for wrathful deity and can refer to [[Hevajra]] or [[Chakrasamvara]]. In the [[Nyingma]] tradition the term is often used to refer specifically to [[Chemchok Heruka]] or [[Yangdak]].


==Definition==
==Definition==
According to a [[tantra]]:
According to a [[tantra]]:


:''He'' stands for great compassion.  
:''He'' stands for great compassion.  
:''Ru'' means the absence of gathering.  
:''Ru'' means the absence of gathering.  
:''Ka'' means not abiding in anything whatsoever.<ref>Quoted in [[Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö]], ''Yeshe Saldrön''.</ref>
:''Ka'' means not abiding in anything whatsoever.<ref>Quoted in [[Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö]], ''[[Yeshe Saldrön]]''.</ref>


In the ''[[Zindri]]'', [[Khenpo Ngakchung]] says that, according to [[Patrul Rinpoche]], heruka means "one in whom absolute space (''he'') and [[primordial wisdom]] (''ka'') are united (''ru'')."<ref>Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang, ''A Guide to the Words of My Perfect Teacher'', Boston: Shambhala, 2004, p. 275</ref>
In the ''[[Zindri]]'', [[Khenpo Ngakchung]] says that, according to [[Patrul Rinpoche]], heruka means "one in whom absolute space (''he'') and [[primordial wisdom]] (''ka'') are united (''ru'')."<ref>Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang, ''[[A Guide to the Words of My Perfect Teacher]]'' (Boston: Shambhala, 2004), p. 275.</ref>
 
In the Nyingma tradition, it is used as a general name for (male) wrathful deities. In the [[sarma]] schools of Tibetan Buddhism, [[Kagyü]], [[Sakya]] and [[Geluk]], heruka generally refers to [[Chakrasamvara]] and other chief deities of the mandalas of the [[Mother Tantras]]. The term Heruka can also be used to denote a realized tantric practicioner. <Ref> [[Katok Situ Chökyi Gyatso]], Togden Shakya Shri, The Life and Liberation of a Tibetan Yogi', Shang Shung Publications, 2009, page 243.</Ref>. Wyl. ''khrag 'thung'' means blood drinker.


==Notes==
==Notes==
Line 14: Line 16:


==Further Reading==
==Further Reading==
*[[Padmasambhava]] & [[Jamgön Kongtrul]], ''Light of Wisdom vol. 1'', Rangjung Yeshe Publications, 2004, p.64
*[[Padmasambhava]] & [[Jamgön Kongtrul]], ''Light of Wisdom, Vol. 1'' (Hong Kong: Rangjung Yeshe, 1999), p.64-65 & 170.
 
==External Links==
*[http://www.himalayanart.org/pages/herukatypes/index.html Heruka Outline page at Himalayan Art]


[[Category: Key Terms]]
[[Category:Tibetan Terms]]
[[Category: Buddhas and Deities]]
[[Category:Buddhas and Deities]]

Latest revision as of 21:20, 9 November 2018

The heruka (Tib. ཧེ་རུ་ཀ་ or ཁྲག་འཐུང་, Wyl. he ru ka or khrag 'thung)— another name for wrathful deity and can refer to Hevajra or Chakrasamvara. In the Nyingma tradition the term is often used to refer specifically to Chemchok Heruka or Yangdak.

Definition

According to a tantra:

He stands for great compassion.
Ru means the absence of gathering.
Ka means not abiding in anything whatsoever.[1]

In the Zindri, Khenpo Ngakchung says that, according to Patrul Rinpoche, heruka means "one in whom absolute space (he) and primordial wisdom (ka) are united (ru)."[2]

In the Nyingma tradition, it is used as a general name for (male) wrathful deities. In the sarma schools of Tibetan Buddhism, Kagyü, Sakya and Geluk, heruka generally refers to Chakrasamvara and other chief deities of the mandalas of the Mother Tantras. The term Heruka can also be used to denote a realized tantric practicioner. [3]. Wyl. khrag 'thung means blood drinker.

Notes

  1. Quoted in Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, Yeshe Saldrön.
  2. Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang, A Guide to the Words of My Perfect Teacher (Boston: Shambhala, 2004), p. 275.
  3. Katok Situ Chökyi Gyatso, Togden Shakya Shri, The Life and Liberation of a Tibetan Yogi', Shang Shung Publications, 2009, page 243.

Further Reading

External Links