Explaining Siddha Virupa – The Lord of Yoga

Virupa is also known as Yogeshvara. Virupa is surrounded by students and lineage teachers. Siddha Virupa is especially known as the source of the Lamdre system held by the Sakya school and is thus seen as the Indian founder of their lineage.

 The life of Siddha Virupa

In this section, we are going to learn about the life of Siddha Virupa, after te short etymological description of the word Siddha Virupa itself.

Etymology of Siddha Virupa

Virupa is known as name or wang chug bit was pa in Tibet. Virupa is also called the Lord of Yoga, Ugly One in English.

Earlier we learn about the life of Siddha Virupa. Now, we are going to learn about the painting of Siddha Virupa.

 Painting of Siddha Virupa

In this section, we are going to learn about the painting of Siddha Virupa, after that explanation of Gayandhara, and finally, we will learn about Sachen Kunga Nyingpo.

This painting of Siddha Virupa was commissioned in memory of the teacher named Tsultrim Tashi. By his student Yangchen Popa Zangpo. It was blessed by the famous and historically important 22nd abbot of Zhalu Monastery Rinchen Sonam Chogdruba teacher to the 5th Dalai Lama and Terdag Lingpa. The inscription on the back states that the painting was blessed while Rinchen Sonam Chogdrub was the abbot of Zhalu.

He was ascended to the throne in 1659 and retired in 1671. The subject of the painting is from a vision of Sachen Kunga Nyingpo. When he saw Virupa in the sky accompanied by the four Mahasiddhas: Kanha, Gayadhara, Kotalipa, and Vinarapa.

About Gayadhara

Gayadhara was the teacher of Drokmi Lotsawa. He received the teachings of Virupa which later became known as Lamdre from Avadhutipa. He went to Tibet three times.

Sachen Kunga Nyingpo

Sachen Kunga Nyingpo was a Tibetan spiritual leader and the first of the Five Venerable Supreme Sakya Masters of Tibet. Sachen Kunga Nyinpo was the 3rd Sakya Trizin and son of Khon Konchok Gyalpo. Kon Konchok Gyalpo who was the first Sakya Trizin and founder of the first Sakya Monastery in Tibet in 1073.

Sachen Kunga Nyingpo the son of Khon Konchok Gyalpo and an emanation of Manjushri was born in 1092 into the prominent Khon clan of Sakya. From early childhood, Sachen showed great signs of wisdom. At the age of twelve Sachen under the guidance of his guru, Bari Lotsava performed one-point meditation on Manjushri.

Earlier we learn about the life of Siddha Virupa and the painting of Siddha Virupa. Now, we are going to learn the iconography of Siddha Virupa.

Iconography of Siddha Virupa

In the iconography of Siddha Virupa, we will learn about his body posture, hand and leg gesture, and different representations of Siddha Virupa in thangka and statue.

Posture of the Siddha Virupa

While Siddha Virupa was staying in the Zimkang Nyingma known as the Manjushri Cave of Lhabrang Shar and praying Lama Gonpawa appeared and gave the complete instructions. Again from praying fervently arose the Holy Lord of Yoga with a body brown in color. He was radiant like the sun with the two hands performing the Dharma Wheel Mudra.

The two legs of Siddha Virupa in vajra posture resting on bal drog to mon drog in a manner with the white earth Sakya as a backdrop. On the right hand of the Siddha Virupa, there is in meditative equipoise. In the vajra posture, Siddha Virupa is holding a vajra and bell to the heart.

Earlier we learn about the life of Siddha Virupa, the painting of Siddha Virupa, and the iconography of Siddha Virupa. Now, we are going to learn about depicting Siddha Virupa.

Depicting Siddha Virupa Thangka

The thangka of Siddha Virupa is from Tibet. The thangka of Siddha Virupa is made between 1600 – 1699 AD. Siddha Virupa is from Sakya and Buddhist lineage. The base of the painting is Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton. Currently, this painting is in the Rubin.

By depicting this thangka, we will learn how Siddha Virupa is presented with different deities such as Mahasiddha Kanhapa, Pandita Gayadhara, Kotalipa, Vinapa, and Three Mahasiddhas, etc.

Mahasiddha Kanhapa

Mahasiddha Kanhapa is on the right of the Siddha Virupa in the thangka.

Pandita Gayadhara

Pandita Gayadhara is on the left of the Siddha Virupa in the thangka. Pandit Gayadhara is wearing white garments.

Kotalipa

Kotalipa is behind the Siddha Virupa in the thangka. Kotalipa is holding a parasol.

Vinapa

Vinapa is in front of the Siddha Virupa in the thangka. Vinapa is holding a nectar-filled skullcup.

Three Mahasiddhas

The Three Mahasiddhas are blue-black in color. Mahasiddas is with long hair. Mahasiddhas is wearing white garments and gazing towards the master. Mahasiddha is a term for someone who embodies and cultivates the siddhi of perfection.

A Siddha is an individual who through the practice of sadhana attains the realization of siddhis, psychic and spiritual abilities and powers.  Mahasiddhas were practitioners of yoga and tantra or Tantrikas.

Over the course of one month, Siddha Virupa taught Hevajra Guruyoga Lamzab Lamai Naljor Common and Uncommon Virupa Guruyoga the Virupa Tradition Vajravidarana and the seventy-two Tantras.

Earlier we learn about the life of Siddha Virupa, the painting of Siddha Virupa,  the iconography of Siddha Virupa, and depicting Siddha Virupa. Now we were going to learn about the presentation of Siddha Virupa with Hevajra.

Siddha Virupa with Hevajra Thangka

The thangka of Siddha Virupa with Hevajra is from Tibet. It is made between 1900 – 1959 AD. Siddha Virupa with Hevajra is from Sakya and Ngor (Sakya) lineage. The size of the painting is 101.60×71.12cm. Ground Mineral Pigment and Fine Gold Line on Cotton is used to color this painting. Presently, this painting is in the Rubin Museum of Art.

By depicting this thangka, we will learn about the presentation if Siddha Virupa with Panjarnata MahakalaandShridevi, and Brahmarupa Mahakala and Vaishravana, etc.

Virupa is a progenitor of the Margapala system for the interpretation of the Hevajra Tantra; the most important tantric teachings of the Sakya School of Tibetan Buddhism.

Hevajra is in the bottom center of the thangka. Hevajra is the wrathful deity who is blue in color with eight faces and sixteen hands.

Panjarnata Mahakala and Shridevi

Panjarnata Mahakala is on the left side of the thangka.  Shri Devi is on the right side of the thangka.

Brahmarupa Mahakala and Vaishravana

Brahmarupa Mahakala is in the bottom left of the thangka. And Vaishravana is at the bottom right of the thangka. Vaishravana is known as the worldly protector and wealth deity.

Earlier we learn about the life of Siddha Virupa, the painting of Siddha Virupa,  the iconography of Siddha Virupa,  depicting Siddha Virupa, and the representation of Siddha Virupa with Hevajra. Now, we are going to learn about Siddha Virupa with Shridevi.

Siddha Virupa with Sridevi Thangka

The thangka of Siddha Virupa with Shridevi is from Tibet. It is made between 1400 – 1499 AD. Siddha Virupa with Shridevi is from the Sakya lineage. The size of the painting is 32.39×25.40cm. The base of the painting is  Ground Mineral Pigment.  Presently, this painting is in the Rubin Museum of Art.

By depicting this thangka, we will learn about the presentation if Siddha Virupa with Red Monastic and Panjarnata Mahakala.

Siddha Virupa is brown in color with the face turned to the side.  He holds upraised in a wrathful gesture the left hand. The right hand is pressed with the palm flat against the seat.

Sri Devi is in the right of the thangka.  Shri Devi is blue in color with one face and four hands holding a sword, skullcup, spear, and trident. Shri Devi is riding a mule in an ocean of blood.

Red Monastic

Red Monastic is in the top left of the thangka. Red monastic robes are with the right arm bare performs the mudra of Dharma Teaching. Red Monasticis wearing a red Pandita hat and seated in vajra posture on a red and blue lotus blossom.

Panjarnata Mahakala

Panjarnata Mahakala is in the bottom left of the thangka. Panjarnata Mahakala is the wrathful protector who is dark blue in color with one face and two hands holding a curved knife and skullcup at the heart with a Ghandi stick lying across the forearms. Panjarnata Mahakala is Standing atop a corpse and lotus seat he is surrounded by the yellow flames of wisdom fire.

Earlier we learn about the life of Siddha Virupa, the painting of Siddha Virupa,  the iconography of Siddha Virupa,  depicting Siddha Virupa, and the representation of Siddha Virupa with Hevajra. Finally, we learn about the representation of Siddha Virupa with Shridevi.

Marichi Thangka Painting

Marichi Thangka Painting is handpainted in Kathmandu Nepal. She is called Oser Chenma, which means “Goddess of the Great Light” in Tibetan.

Buy Marichi Thangka Painting