Himalayan Art Resources

News

Dombhi Heruka: Mahasiddha & Tiger-rider

Dombhi Heruka is one of a small number of Indian Buddhist mahasiddhas that are consistently identifiable based on a standard iconographic form and a consistent artistic depiction. He is most often associated with his teacher Virupa and the Margapala (Lamdre) teachings based on the Hevajra and Chakrasamvara Tantras. Of the two principal students of Virupa, Kanha was taught the gradual method Margapala and Dombhi Heruka was instructed in the teachings of the sudden method Margapala.


There are numerous Tibetan incarnation lineages that claim Dombhi Heruka as a previous incarnation. The most famous of these are the Gelugpa Longdol Lama, the Karma Kagyu Tai Situpa and the Surmang Trungpa Tulku. Longdol Lama also includes Marpa Chokyi Lodro in his incarnation lineage which would also make Marpa a later incarnation of Dombhi Heruka. Tai Situ followers also claim that the Situpa is an incarnation of the Bodhisattva Maitreya and the Tibetan teacher Jonang Taranata, thus making Dombhi Heruka also an incarnation of Maitreya first and Jonang Taranata an additional later incarnation of Dombhi Heruka. The incarnation lineage of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo also claims descent from Jonang Taranata subsequently making him, Khyentse, also an incarnation of Maitreya, Dombhi Heruka, Marpa Chokyi Lodro, Longdol Lama and Tai Situpa. The general belief within the tradition of Khyentse Wangpo however is that he is an emanation of the bodhisattva Manjushri with prior incarnations of Milarepa, Longchenpa, Jigme Lingpa and Thartse Namkha Chime to name a few.


From this brief analysis of the different traditions and their incarnation lineages it becomes clear to see that each has to be looked at individually and within its own Tibetan Tradition and unique logic system. The different schools generally operate individually and in isolation from the other traditions therefore the various claims and overlapping belief systems are of little consequence traditionally. However looked at with the benefit of distance and a knowledge of the various incarnation lineages the compounding of the duplicate and triplicate claims as a whole along with the interweaving and inclusion of numerous other bodhisattvas, deities, Indian and Tibetan teachers all over-lapping - the incarnation system becomes entirely fantastical.


Dombhi Heruka is commonly mistaken for another mahasiddha with a similar name but different appearance, Dombipa the washer-man, also from the set of Eighty-four Mahasiddhas. The mahasiddha form of Je Tsongkapa in his depiction as a siddha riding a tiger and carrying a sword in the upraised right hand is often mistaken for Dombhi Heruka of the Eighty-four Mahasiddhas.


Although originally belonging to the 'Sarma' New Traditions of Tibetan Buddhism beginning in the 11th century, later Nyingmapas adopted Dombhi Heruka into the new 'Terma' compilations of the life-story of Padmasambhava making both Dombhi Heruka and Virupa incarnations/emanations of Padmasambhava.


In the appearance of a mahasiddha figure, of which there are three types, having taken on the guise of a heruka deity, the third of the three types, with bone ornaments and a skull headdress, Dombhi Heruka typically holds a snake lasso in the upward raised right hand and a skullcup in the left embracing the consort. He rides a top a pregnant tigress accompanied by a low-caste consort. [See the Eleven Figurative Forms in Tibetan Buddhist Iconography].


Context: Groups, Sets & Subjects:

Dombhi Heruka is found depicted in art primarily associated with painting sets or single art works, or belonging to the following subjects listed below:

- Eighty-four Mahasiddhas (Abhayadatta)

- Eighty-four Mahasiddhas (Vajrasana)

- Margaphala Lineage (Lamdre)

- Rakta Yamari Lineage

- Mahamaya Lineage

- Bernagchen Mahakala Lineage

- Padmasambhava Incarnation (Life Story Narratives)

- Tai Situ Incarnation Lineage

- Longdol Lama Incarnation Lineage

- Surmang Trungpa Incarnation Lineage

- Hero [pa tu] from the Group of Thirty Warriors (Ling Gesar Epic)

- Others....