Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Heruka (Nyingma)

ཧེ་རུ་ཀ། རྙིང་མ་པ། 嘿噜嘎 (寧瑪巴)
(item no. 7)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1400 - 1499
Lineages Nyingma
Size 60.96x43.18cm (24x17in)
Material Ground Mineral Pigment, Raised Gold, Fine Gold Line on Cotton
Collection Rubin Museum of Art
Catalogue # acc.# P1994.4.1
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Interpretation / Description

Wrathful Heruka (Tibetan: trag tung): dark red in colour, with three faces and 6 hands, embracing a consort, surrounded by a host of animal headed retinue figures. Five similar Heruka deities stand to the sides and above. At the very top center is the primordial buddha Samantabhadra. The 'Genderless' Mahakala stands at the bottom center along with various protectors such as Rahula with nine heads and Dorje Legpa riding a white snow lion.

Jeff Watt 9-2000

Related Items
Thematic Sets
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art: Painting Gallery 6
Tradition: Nyingma Deity Paintings
Subject: Guhyagarbha Tantra (Peaceful & Wrathful Deities)
Subject: Heruka (Nyingma, Miscellaneous)