Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Heruka (Nyingma)

ཧེ་རུ་ཀ། རྙིང་མ་པ། 嘿噜嘎 (寧瑪巴)
(item no. 11561)
Origin Location Bhutan
Date Range 1700 - 1799
Lineages Nyingma, Drukpa (Kagyu, Bhutan) and Buddhist
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Private
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Interpretation / Description

Padma Vajra Heruka (Tibetan: drag tung. English: Blood-drinker): from the Lama Gongdu Cycle of Revealed Treasure (Tibetan: ter ma) teachings of the Nyingma tradition.

'...Padma Vajra, bright red, three faces, red, blue, [and] white. In the right [hands] a vajra, sword [and] skullcup. In the left a bell, vase [and] katvanga. The Red Lady holds a drum and skullcup. In a posture having the nine expressions of dance. Poised on a lotus, moon and sun.' (Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro. Daily Practice of Lama Gongdü).

Jeff Watt [updated 3-2023]

Related Items
Thematic Sets
Buddhist Deity: Padma Vajra (Lama Gongdu)
Buddhist Deity: Lama Gongdu Terma Cycle (Main Page)
Region: Bhutan, Main Page