Eight vidyadharas

Eight vidyadharas (Wyl. rig 'dzin brgyad) — eight Indian masters of awareness (vidyadhara) who were entrusted with the Kagyé teachings:

• Vimalamitra,
• Humkara,
• Mañjushrimitra,
• Nagarjuna,
• Prabhahasti,
• Dhanasamskrita,
• Rambuguhya-Devachandra and
• Shantigarbha.

Sometimes Padmasambhava is added as a ninth, or even as part of the eight in place of Prabahasti.

The Eight Vidyadharas and the Kagyé

According to Dudjom Rinpoche:

Master	Deity	Casket
Vimalamitra	Chemchok	gold
Humkara	Yangdak	silver
Mañjushrimitra	Yamantaka	iron
Nagarjuna	Hayagriva	copper
Padmasambhava	Vajrakilaya	turquoise
Dhanasamskrita	Mamo Bötong	rhinoceros horn
Rambuguhya	Jikten Chötö	agate
Shantigarbha	Möpa Drakngak	Zi stone

In the Mandala of Rigdzin Düpa

The eight vidyadharas appear as follows in the mandala of Rigdzin Düpa (together with the associated deities of Kagyé):

• East - Humkara - Yangdak Heruka
• South - Manjushrimitra - Yamantaka
• West - Nagarjuna - Hayagriva
• North - Prabhahasti - Vajrakilaya
• South-east - Dhanasamskrita - Mamo Bötong
• South-west - Vimalamitra - Düdtsi Yönten
• North-west- Rombhuguhya - Jikten Chötö
• North-east - Shantigarbha - Möpa Drakngak

Gallery

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  Vimalamitra

• 

  Shantigarbha

• 

  Rombhuguhya

• 

  Prabahasti

• 

  Nagarjuna

• 

  Manjushrimitra

• 

  Humkara

• 

  Dhanasamskrta

Internal Links

• Prayer to the Eight Supreme Vidyadharas of India: “A Constant Stream of Blessings”