Eight Herukas of the Nyingma Mahayoga

Heruka ( Sanskrit ) Tibetan: ( Khrag Thung), is the name of a category of wrathful deities, enlightened beings in Vajrayana Buddhism that adopt a fierce countenance to benefit sentient beings. In East Asia, these are called Wisdom Kings.

Herukas represent the embodiment of indivisible bliss and emptiness. They appear as Istha-devata (Tibetan: Yidam) or meditational deities for Tantric Sadhana, usually placed in a mandala and often appearing in Yab-Yum.

Heruka represents wrathful imagery with indivisible emptiness (Sunyata), bliss, peace, wisdom, compassion (Bodhicitta), and love. Herukas represent unified consciousness, with emptiness being a reflection of "non-phenomena" or emptiness which is "all love," or removal of imagery to reach universal love, mercy, and compassion-mind. Interpretation of Heruka is similar to the female Dakiṇi or Buddha Vajrayogini.

* The eight Herukas of the Nyingma mahayoga

The Nyingma mahayoga tradition (and their corresponding sadhanas) are said to have been received by Padmakara from the Eight Vidyadharas  or Eight Great Acharyas: Manjushrimitra, Nagarjuna, Vajrahumkara, Vimalamitra, Prabhahasti, Dhanasamskrita, Shintamgarbha and Guhyachandra. They were proficient in the practices of, respectively:

(No.1)  Yamantaka (Tibetan : Jampal Shinje, ’jam dpal sku) the wrathful Manjushri, the deity of body.  In Vajrayana Buddhism, Vajrabhairava, also known as Yamantaka, is a wrathful, buffalo-headed meditational deity (Tibetan: yi-dam) of the Highest Yoga Tantra class and/or a Dharma protector. Vajrabhairava is one of the principal three meditational deities of the Gelug school (Tibetan: gsang bed ‘jigs gsum; the others are Chakrasamvara and Guhyasamaja).

(No.2) Hayagriva (Tibetan: Pema Sung, padma gsung) the wrathful Avalokiteśvara, the deity of speech. 

What is so special about Hayagriva?

In Tibet, Hayagriva was promoted especially by Buddhist teacher Atiśa and appeared as a worldly Dharmapala. His special ability is to cure diseases, especially skin diseases even as serious as leprosy, which is said to be caused by nagas. (Dragon)

(No.3) Vishuddha/Sri Samyak (Tibetan: Yangdak Thuk,) the wrathful Vajrapani deity of mind. Vishuddha/Sri Samyak (Tibetan: Yangdak Thuk,) is one of the eight deities of Kagyé, corresponding to the Enlightened Mind. Yangdak Heruka is the wrathful manifestation of Vajrasattva and is similar to the deity known as Chakrasamvara (Skt. cakrasaṃvara; 

Tibetan:. Demchok), practised in the Sarma tradition. 

(No.4) Mahottara (Tibetan: Chem Chok) the wrathful Samantabhadra, the deity of enlightened qualities.  Mahottara: the many headed, many armed deity arising out of the simple form with three faces and six hands; surrounded by deities and Buddhas. 

Mahottara Heruka emanates from the Primordial Buddha. He has 21 faces, 42 arms and eight legs. Mahottara is holding 42 bright mirrors in his 42 hands showing all 42 peaceful deities. 

(No.5) Vajrakilaya/Vajrakumara (Tibetan: Dorje Phurba) the wrathful Vajrasattva, the deity of purification. Vajrakilaya is a wrathful manifestation of Vajrasattva, the Buddha of purification. This powerful practice of Vajrakilaya focuses on removing outer and inner obstacles to happiness, peace, bliss, and enlightenment.

(No.6) Matarah (Tibetan : Mamo Botong) the wrathful Akasagarbha, the deity of calling and dispatching.  The 6th deity in the set of Eight Pronouncement Herukas of the Nyingma Tradition. This system is associated with the Indian Adept Danasamskrita. Mamo Botong is a practice for restoring, for reconnecting, for stabilizing, for harmonizing the elemental energy of the feminine world. This is basically our outer physical world, the inner body world, and the innermost  tsalung tigle world. (Substance)

(No.7) Lokastotrapuja-natha (Tibetan :Jigten Chotod) the wrathful Ksitigarbha, the deity of worldly offering and praise. 

(No.8) Vajramantrabhiru (Tibetan: Mopa Dragnak) the wrathful Maitreya, the deity of wrathful mantras. 

Padmasambhava is quoted in the Bardo Thodol (Antarabhavatantra - "Tibetan Book of the Dead"): "The crucial point is indeed that those who have meditated on the formal description of these Herukakaya ('bodies of Heruka'), and also made offerings and praise to them, or, at the very least, have simply seen their painted and sculpted images, may recognize the forms that arise here and attain moksha (liberation)."

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Aspiration For Bodhichitta

For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen

May it arise and not decrease

But increase further and further.

Dedication of Merit

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.

May we liberate migratory from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

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