Masters of Mahāmudrā : songs and histories of the eighty-four Buddhist siddhas

473 Pages·1985·31.777 MB·English

by  Abhayadatta, Keith Dowman, Hugh R Downs

ISBN 0-88706-160-5
,!7IA8I7-agbgai!:t;K;k;K;k
6.00 x 9.00 6.00 x 9.00
,!7IA8I7-agbgai! 1.060
047700
MASTERS OF MAHA.MUDRA.
SUNY Series in Buddhist Studies
Edited by Kenneth K. Inada
- -
MASTERS OF MAHAMUDRA
Songs and Histories
of the Eighty-Four Buddhist Siddhas
Translation and Commentary by
Keith Dowman
Illustrations by
Hugh R. Downs
State University of New York Press
The cover illustration is of the Mahasiddha Jalandharipa, The
l!akinfs Chosen One.
Published by
State University of New York Press, Albany
© 1985 State University of New York
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
No part of this book may be used or reproduced
in any manner whatsoever without written permission
except in the case of brief quotations embodied in
critical articles and reviews.
For information, address State University of New York
Press, State University Plaza, Albany, N.Y., 12246
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Abhayadatta.
Masters of Mahamudra.
(SUNY series in Buddhist studies)
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
1. Siddhas~Biography. 2. Tantric Buddhism~India.
I. Dowman, Keith. II. Downs, Hugh R. III. Title.
IV. Series.
BQ342.A2313 1985 294.3 '925 '0922 [B] 85-20771
ISBN 0-88706-158-3
ISBN 0-88706-160-5 (pbk.)
Invocation and Dedication
A
man attuned and at peace with all others, whose words are
revelation with personal relevance to each listener, and whose
very posture and gesture are meaningful communication; a man
who knows his own mind and everyone else's and whose constant in
fectious humor elevates his friends and guests to stars in the cosmic
dance: he is the Lama. In the beginning I pay homage to one such
man called Kanjur Lama. He was born in Eastern Tibet, became a
respected savant at Riwoche Monastery in Amdo, and ended his life
as a refugee in Darjeeling, India, at the age of eighty-four. May this
invocation of the Lama give us direct perception of his Mind, and
may the merit of this work fulfill his intent that all sentient beings be
released from the wheel of life and attain The Great Perfection, or
The Magnificent Stance (Mahamudra).

Contents
List of Illustrations ........................................ x
Preface ................................................. xi
Introduction and Notes .................................... 1
Songs and Legends of the Eighty-four Mahasiddhas ............ 33
1. The Mahasiddha Liiipa, The Fish-Gut Eater .......... 33
2. The Mahasiddha Ulapa, The Royal Hedonist ......... 39
3. The Mahasiddha Viriipa, I;)akini-Master ............. 43
4. The Mahasiddha I;)ombipa, The Tiger-Rider ......... 53
5. The Mahasiddha 5avaripa, The Hunter .............. 60
6. The Mahasiddha Saraha, The Great Brahmin ........ 66
7. The Siddha KaIikaripa, The Lovelorn Widower ....... 73
8. The Mahasiddha Minapa, The HinduJonah .......... 76
9. The Nath Siddha Gorak~a, The Immortal Cowherd .... 81
10. The Nath Siddha CauraIigipa, The Dismembered
Stepson .................................... 86
1l. The Siddha Vir;tapa, The Musician .................. 91
12. The Mahasiddha 5antipa (Ratnakarasanti), The
Complacent Missionary ....................... 94
13. The Mahasiddha Tantipa, The Senile Weaver ....... 100
14. The Siddha Camaripa, The Cobbler ............... 104
15. The Siddha Khac;lgapa, The Fearless Thief .......... 108
16. The Mahasiddha Nagarjuna, Philosopher and
Alchemist ................................. 112
17. The Mahasiddha Kar;thapa (Kr~r;tacarya), The
Dark Siddha ............................... 123
18. The Mahasiddha Aryadeva (Karr;taripa), The
One-Eyed ................................. 132
19. The Siddha Thaganapa, The Compulsive Liar ....... 138
20. The Mahasiddha Naropa, The Dauntless ............ 142
2l. The Siddha 5yalipa, The Jackal-Yogin .............. 148
22. The Mahasiddha Tilopa, The Great Renunciate ...... 151
23. The Siddha Catrapa, The Lucky Beggar ............ 156
24. The Siddha Bhadrapa, The Exclusive Brahmin ...... 159
25. The Siddha Dukhandhi, The Scavenger ............. 163
26. The Siddha Ajogi, The Rejected Wastrel ............ 166
27. The Siddha Kalapa, The Handsome Madman ....... 169
28. The Siddha Dhobipa, The Wise Washerman ......... 173
29. The Siddha Kanka:v,a, The Siddha-King ............ 176
30. The Mahasiddha Kambala (Lwa wa pa), The
Black-Blanket-Clad Yogin ................... 179
31. The Mahasiddha I;>engipa, The Courtesan's
Brahmin Slave ............................. 186
32. The Siddha Bhandepa, The Envious God ........... 191
33. The Siddha Tantepa, The Gambler ................ 195
34. The Mahasiddha Kukkuripa, The Dog-Lover ........ 199
35. The Siddha Kucipa, The Goitre-Necked Yogin ....... 204
36. The Siddha Dharmapa, The Eternal Student ........ 207
37. The Siddha Mahipa, "The Greatest" ............... 2lO
38. The Siddha Acinta, The Avaricious Hermit. ......... 213
39. The Siddha Babhaha, The Free Lover .............. 216
40. The Siddha Nalinapa, The Self-Reliant Prince ....... 219
41. The Mahasiddha Bhusuku (Santideva), The Idle Monk 222
42. The Mahasiddha Indrabhuti, The Enlightened
Siddha -King ............................... 229
43. The Siddha Mekopa, Guru Dread-Stare ............. 235
44. The Siddha Kotalipa (Tog tse pa), The Peasant Guru. 238
45. The Siddha Kamparipa, The Blacksmith ............ 242
46. The Mahasiddha Jalandhara, The I;>akini's
Chosen One ............................... 245
47. The Mahasiddha Rahula, The Rejuvenated Dotard ... 252
48. The Siddha Dharmapa (Gharbari), The Contrite
Pa:v,c;lita ................................... 256
49. The Siddha Dhokaripa, The Bowl-Bearer ........... 260
50. The Siddha Medhini, The Tired Farmer ............ 262
51. The Siddha Pankajapa, The Lotus-Born Brahmin .... 264
52. The Mahasiddha Gha:v,tapa, The Celibate Bell-Ringer 267
53. The SiddhaJogipa, The Siddha-Pilgrim ............. 276
54. The Mahasiddha Celukapa, The Revitalized Drone ... 280
55. The Siddha Godhuripa, The Bird-Catcher .......... 283
56. The Siddha Lucikapa, The Escapist ................ 286
57. The Siddha Nirgu:v,apa, The Enlightened Moron ..... 288
58. The SiddhaJayananda, Crow-Master ............... 291
59. The Siddha Pacaripa, The Pastrycook .............. 294
60. The Siddha Campaka, The Flower-King ............ 298
61. The Siddha Bhik~anapa, Siddha Two-Teeth ......... 301
62. The Siddha Dhilipa, The Epicurean Merchant ....... 303
63. The Siddha Kumbharipa, The Potter ............... 306
64. The Nath Siddha Carbaripa (Carpari), The Petrifier .. 309
65. The Yogin) Siddha MaI)ibhadra, The Happy
Housewife ................................. 313
66. The Yogin) Siddha Mekhala, The Elder
Severed-Headed Sister. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 317
67. The Yogin) Siddha Kanakhala, The Younger
Severed-Headed Sister ....................... 321
68. The Siddha Kilakilapa, The Exiled Loud-Mouth ..... 322
69. The Siddha Kantalipa, The Ragman-Tailor ......... 325
70. The Siddha Dhahulipa, The Blistered Rope-Maker ... 329
71. The Siddha Udhilipa, The Bird-Man ............... 332
72. The Kapali Siddha Kapalapa, The Skull-Bearer ...... 336
73. The Siddha Kirapalapa (Kilapa), The Repentant
Conqueror ................................. 339
74. The Mahasiddha Sakara (Saroruha), the Lotus-Born .. 342
75. The Siddha Sarvabhak~a, The Glutton .............. 347
76. The Mahasiddha Nagabodhi, The Red-Horned Thief. 350
77. The Mahasiddha Darikapa, Slave-King of the
Temple Whore ............................. 355
78. The Siddha Putalipa, The Mendicant Icon-Bearer .... 359
79. The Siddha Upanaha, The Bootmaker .............. 362
80. The Siddha Kokilipa, The Complacent Esthete ....... 365
81. The Mahasiddha Anailgapa, The Handsome Fool .... 368
82. The Yogin) Mahasiddha Lak~mlilkara, The Crazy
Princess ................................... 372
83. The Siddha Samudra, The Pearl Diver .............. 376
84. The Siddha Vyalipa, The Courtesan's Alchemist ...... 379
Appendix I: Texts and Sources ............................ 384
Appendix II: The Siddhas' Genealogy and Genealogical Tree ... 389
Notes to the Commentary ................................ 394
Glossary of Sanskrit Terms ................................ 414
Glossary of Numeral Terms ............................... 426
Abbreviations and Bibliography ........................... 431
Indexes ............................................... 436