Mahasiddhas – Who Has Attained Highest Level Accomplishment
The Mahasiddhas, literally the ‘Greatly Attained Ones’, lived in India between the 8th and 12th centuries and were the instigators of the highly esoteric Yoga Tantra systems that were finally transmitted into Tibet. The Mahasiddhas came from all walks of life, and the diversity of their often-outlandish legends reveals much about the different approaches to enlightenment.
A practitioner who has attained the high level of realization of an Arhat is said to acquire at least six siddhis or powers. These powers include such seemingly miraculous abilities as the power to fly, to levitate, to make oneself invisible, to possess another person’s body, to decrease or increase one’s size at will, and to assume other forms at will. There are said to be 84 siddhis that one can attain through the ultimate realization of emptiness and the attainment of enlightenment. These 84 siddhis are exemplified in the popular stories of the 84 Mahasiddhas, each of whom represents one of the siddhis. These stories are very popular and well-known throughout Tibet and India as well as the other Buddhist countries of Asia.
One thing that stands out when reading the stories of the 84 Mahasiddhas is how different each of them are from the others. Some were kings, some monks, some itinerant ascetics, some fishermen and butchers. The one common thread throughout all the stories, however, is that these individuals all broke free of the limits and boundaries imposed on them by their circumstances and livelihoods. Monks, kings, householders, having accomplished the subtle practices of the highest tantric yogas, all abandoned their robes or their crowns or their families and wandered the mountains and charnel grounds free of attachment to anyone or anything. They often appeared as crazy hermits, unbound by any rules and living seemingly as they chose. Yet all remained true to their realization and their wish to liberate all beings from suffering.
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- Mahasiddha Luyipa Lūyipa / Luipa (nya’i rgyu ma za ba): “The Eater of Fish Intestines” ”The Fish-Gut Eater”
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- Mahasiddha Lilapa Līlapa / Līlāpāda (sgeg pa): “He Who Loved the Dance of Life” ”The Royal Hedonist”
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- Mahasiddha Virupa… Virūpa / Dharmapala (bi ru pa): “The Wicked” ”Master of Dakinis”
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- Mahasiddha Dombhipa Dombipa / Dombipāda (dom bhi he ru ka): “He of the Washer Folk” ”The Tiger Rider”
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- Mahasiddha Shawaripa Savaripa / Shavaripa / Sabaripāda (ri khrod dbang phyug): “The Peacock Wing Wearer” ”The Hunter”
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- Mahasiddha Saraha: The “Arrow Shooter”]”The Great Brahmin”
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- Mahasiddha Kangkalipa Kankaripa / Kankālipāda (kanka ri pa): “The One Holding the Corpse” ”The Lovelorn Widower”
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- Mahasiddha Menapa Mīnapa / Vajrapāda / Acinta (nya bo pa): “The One Swallowed by a Fish” ”The Avaricious Hermit” ”The Bengali Jonah”
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- Mahasiddha Goraksa Goraksa (ba glang rdzi): “The Immortal Cowherd”
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- Mahasiddha Sorangipa Courangipa: “The Limbless One”
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- Mahasiddha Vinapa Vīnapa / Vīnapāda (pi vang pa): “The Lute Player” ”The Music Lover”
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- Mahasiddha Santipa Sāntipa / Ratnākarasānti (a kar chin ta): “The Academic”
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- Mahasiddha Tantipa Tantipa / Tantipāda (thags mkhan): “The Weaver” ”The Senile Weaver”
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- Mahasiddha Tsamarepa Camaripa / Tsamaripa (lham mkhan): “The Leather-worker” ”The Divine Cobbler”
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- Mahasiddha Khadgapa Khadgapa / Pargapa / Sadgapa (ral gri pa): “The Swordsman” ”The Master Thief”
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- Mahasiddha Nagarjuna: “Philosopher and Alchemist”
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- Mahasiddha Khanapa Kānhapa / Krsnācharya (nag po pa): “The Dark Master” ”The Dark-Skinned One”
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- Mahasiddha Karnarepa Karnaripa / Āryadeva (‘phags pa lha): “The One-Eyed” ”The Lotus Born”
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- Mahasiddha Thaganapa Thaganapa / Thagapa (rtag tu rdzun smra ba): “He Who Always Lies” ”Master of the Lie”
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- Mahasiddha Naropa/Narotapa Naropa / Nādapāda (rtsa bshad pa): “He Who Was Killed by Pain” ”The Dauntless Disciple”
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- Mahasiddha Shalipa Shalipa / Syalipa (spyan ki pa): “The Jackal Yogin”
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- Mahasiddha Tilopa Tilopa / Prabhāsvara (snum pa / til bsrungs zhabs): “The Sesame Grinder” ”The Great Renunciate”
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- Mahasiddha Saktrapa Catrapa / Chatrapāda (tsa tra pa): “The Beggar Who Carries the Book”
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- Mahasiddha Bhadrapa Bhadrapa / Bhadrapāda (bzang po): “The Auspicious One” ”The Snob”
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- Mahasiddha Dukhandhipa Khandipa / Dukhandi (gnyis gcig tu byed pa / rdo kha do): “He Who Makes Two into One”
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- Mahasiddha Ajokipa Ajokipa / Āyogipāda (le lo can): “He Who Does Not Make Effort”
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- Mahasiddha Kalapa Kalapa / Kadapāda (smyon pa): “The Madman” ”The Handsome Madman”
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- Mahasiddha Dhubipa Dombipa / Dombipāda (dom bhi he ru ka): “He of the Washer Folk” ”The Tiger Rider”
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- Mahasiddha Kankana Kankana / Kikipa (gdu bu can): “The Bracelet Wearer”
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- Mahasiddha Kambala Kambala / Khambala (ba wa pa / lva ba pa): “The Yogin of the Black Blanket”
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- Mahasiddha Bhendepa Bhandhepa / Bade / Batalipa (nor la ‘dzin pa): “He Who Holds the God of Weath”
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- Mahasiddha Dhingipa Tengipa / Tinkapa (‘bras rdung ba): “The Rice Thresher”
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- Mahasiddha Tantepa Tandhepa / Tandhi (cho lo pa): “The Dice Player” ”The Gambler”
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- Mahasiddha Kukuripa Kukkuripa (ku ku ri pa): “The Dog Lover”
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- Mahasiddha Kuzepa Kucipa / Kujiba (ltag lba can): “The Man with a Neck Tumor”
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- Mahasiddha Dhamapa Dharmapa – (tos pa can): “The Man of Dharma”
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- Mahasiddha Mahalapa Mahipa / Makipa (ngar rgyal can): “The Braggart”
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- Mahasiddha Acinta Acinta / Atsinta (bsam mi khyab pa / dran med pa): “He Who is Beyond Thought”
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- Mahasiddha Babehepa Babhahi / Bapabhati (ch las ‘o mo len): “The Man Who Gets Milk from Water”
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- asiddha Shantideva Bhusuku / Shantideva (zhi lha / sa’i snying po): ”The Lazy Monk”
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- Mahasiddha Indrabuti Indrabhūti / Indrabodhi (dbang po’i blo): “He Whose Majesty Is Like Indra” ”The Enlightened King”
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- Mahasiddha Mekopa Mekopa / Meghapāda (me go pa): “The Wild-Eyed Guru”
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- Mahasiddha Toktsepa Kotali / Kotalipa / Togcepa (tog rtse pa / stae re ‘dzin): “The Ploughman” ”The Peasant Guru”
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- Mahasiddha Kamparipa Kamparipa / Kamari (ngar pa): “The Blacksmith”
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- Mahasiddha Zaledarapa Jālandhari / Dzalandara (dra ba ‘dzin pa): “The Man Who Holds a Net” ”The Chosen One”
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- Mahasiddha Rahulagupta Rāhula (sgra gcan ‘dzin): “He Who Has Grasped Rahu”
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- Mahasiddha Dharmapa Dharmapa (thos pa’i shes rab bya ba): “The Man of Dharma”
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- Mahasiddha Dhokaripa Dhokaripa / Tukkari (rdo ka ri): “The Man Who Carries a Pot”
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- Mahasiddha Medhenapa Medhina / Medhini (thang lo pa): “The Man of the Field”
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- Mahasiddha Sankazapa Pankaja / Sankaja (‘dam skyes): “The Lotus-Born Brahmin”
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- Mahasiddha Gandrapa Ghandhapa / Vajraganta / Ghantapa (rdo rje dril bu pa): “The Man with the Bell and Dorje” ”The Celibate Monk”
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- Mahasiddha Zoghipa Yogipa / Jogipa (dzo gi pa): “The Candali Pilgrim
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- Mahasiddha Tsalukipa Caluki/Culiki: “The Revitalized Drone”
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- Mahasiddha Gorurapa Godhuripa / Gorura / Vajura (bya ba): “The Bird Man” ”The Bird Catcher”
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- Mahasiddha Lutsekapa Lucika / Luncaka (lu tsi ka pa): “The Man Who Stood Up After Sitting”
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- Mahasiddha Nalinapa Nalina / Nili / Nali (pad ma’i rtsa ba): “The Lotus-Root”
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- Mahasiddha Nigunapa Niguna / Nirgunapa (yon tan med pa): “The Man without Qualities” ”The Enlightened Moron
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- Mahasiddha Nandhipa Jayananda: “The Crow Master”
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- Mahasiddha Patsaripa Pacari / Pacaripa (‘khur ba ‘tsong ba): “The Pastry-Seller”
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- Mahasiddha Tsampakapa Campaka / Tsampala (tsam pa ka): “The Flower King”
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- Mahasiddha Bhichanapa Bhiksanapa / Bhekhepa (so gnyis pa): “The Man with Two-Teeth” ”Siddha Two-Teeth
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- Mahasiddha Dhelipa Telopa / Dhilipa (mar nag ‘tshong mkhan): “The Seller of Black Butter” ”The Epicure”
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- Mahasiddha Kumbharipa Kamparipa/Kamari: “The Potter”
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- Mahasiddha Sarwatripa Caparipa
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- Mahasiddha Manibhadra: “She of the Broken Pot” ”The Model Wife”
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- Mahasiddha Mekhala: “The Elder Severed-Headed Sister”
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- Mahasiddha Kanakhala: “The Younger Severed-Headed Sister”
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- Mahasiddha Kalakala Kilakipala: “The Exiled Loud-Mouth”
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- Mahasiddha Kantalipa Kantali: “The Tailor” ”The Rag Picker”
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- Mahasiddha Dhahulipa Dhahuli / Dekara (rtsva thag can):“The Man of the Grass Rope”
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- Mahasiddha Kapalapa Kaphalapa / Kapalipa (thod pa can): “The Skull Bearer”
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- Mahasiddha Udhelipa Udhilipa: “The Flying Siddha”
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- Mahasiddha Kiralawapa Kirava/Kilapa (rnam rtog spang ba): “He Who Abandons Conceptions” ”The Repentant Conqueror”
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- Mahasiddha Sakarapa Saroruha / Sakara / Pukara / Padmavajra (mtsho skyes): “The Lake-Born” ”The Lotus Child”
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- Mahasiddha Sarwabaksa… Sarvabhaksa (thams cad za ba): “He Who Eats Everything”/”The Empty Bellied Siddha”
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- Mahasiddha Nagabhodhi Nāgabodhi (klu’i byang chub): “The Red Horned Thief
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- Mahasiddha Dharikapa Dārika / Darikapa (smad ‘tshong can): “Slave-King of the Temple Whore”
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- Mahasiddha Putalipa
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- Mahasiddha Sahanapa Panaha
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- Mahasiddha Kokilapa Kokalipa / Kokilipa / Kokali (ko la la’i skad du chags): “The One Distracted by a Cuckoo”
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- Mahasiddha Anangapa Ananga / Anangapa (ana ngi):“The Handsome Fool”
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- Mahasiddha Lakshimikara Laksminkara: “She Who Makes Fortune” ”The Mad Princess”
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- Mahasiddha Samudra: “The Beach-comber”
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- Mahasiddha Vyalipa: “The Courtesan’s Alchemist”
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