Item: Indian Adept (siddha) - Virupa

Virupa, the Lord of Yoga, 9th century (Tibetan: bir wa pa, nal jor wang chug); foremost in magical attainments amongst the Eighty-four Mahasiddhas of India.

Brown in colour, with the face turned to the side, he holds upraised in a wrathful gesture the right hand causing the sun to halt in the sky. The left hand holds a white skullcup to the heart. Pleasant in appearance, with black hair adorned with flowers and circular gold earrings, necklaces, bracelets, anklets and a garland of flowers decorating the body. A red meditation belt secures the legs. In a relaxed posture atop a double cushion he sits, with trees and clouds behind. In the sky above is Amitabha Buddha, red in colour. Two kneeling attendants in front make offerings to the Lord of Yoga.

Virupa can appear in a number of different forms and colours. He can also appear in different contexts such as a set of lineage images, a narrative scene, the set of Eighty-four Mahasiddhas, as a Guruyoga meditation form, etc. Virupa is not unique to any one tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and therefore can be found almost anywhere. In the Sakya Tradition Virupa is typically depicted in one of six textually documented forms that follow the major events in his life story.

"Reversing the Ganga and subduing the evil king; While holding the sun - drinking the liquor of the entire country, without being drunk; Completely shattering the Linga and subduing the Chandali; To the renowned Lord of Power, I bow my head." (Sakya liturgical verse).

"With a body blue in colour, The right hand pressed to the ground, The left upraised in a threatening gesture, Seated in the sattva posture; To the One reversing the Ganga, I bow! Mangalam."

Jeff Watt 3-2016