At the place of his armpits, Kamarupa, are Hero Ankuraka, who is the same person as Bodhisattva Sarvanivaranaviskambini, and his consort Heroine Airawatiya. At the place of his two breasts, Ote, are Hero Vajrajatila, who is the same person as Bodhisattva Gadze Dhupe (Elephant Incense), and his consort Heroine Mahabhairawi. At the place of his navel, Trishakune, are Hero Mahavira, who is the same person as Bodhisattva Lodro Mitsepa (Inexhaustible Wisdom), and his consort Heroine Bayubega. At the place of the tip of his nose, Kosala, are Hero Vajrahumkara, who is the same person as Bodhisattva Yeshe Tog (Highest Exalted Wisdom), and his consort Heroine Surabhakiya. At the place of his mouth, Kalinga, are Hero Subhadra, who is the same person as Bodhisattva Monpa Kunjom (Dispelling all Darkness), and his consort Heroine Shamadewi. At the place of his throat, Lampaka, are Hero Vajrabhadra, who is the same person as Bodhisattva Powa Tseg (Accomplishing Confidence), and his consort Heroine Suwatre. At the place of his heart, Kancha, are Hero Mahabhairawa, who is the same person as Bodhisattva Ngensong Kunden (Liberating all Lower Realms), and his consort Heroine Hayakarna. At the place of his two testicles, Himalaya, are Hero Virupaksha, who is the same person as Bodhisattva Drawa Chenkyiö (Web of Light), and his consort Heroine Khaganana. These sixteen Deities of the speech wheel are called the ‘Heroes and Heroines of the vajra speech family’ because they are a manifestation of all Buddhas’ speech.
At the place of the tip of his sex organ, Pretapuri, are Hero Mahabala, who is the same person as Bodhisattva Daö Shönnu (Youthful Moonlight), and his consort Heroine Tzatrabega, who is a manifestation of Bodhisattva Gyenpung (Shoulder Ornament). At the place of his anus, Grihadewata, are Hero Ratnavajra, who is the same person as Bodhisattva Dorje Ö (Vajra Light), and his consort Heroine Khandarohi, who is a manifestation of Bodhisattva Sordang (Individual Liberator). At the place of his two thighs, Shauraktra, are Hero Hayagriva, who is the same person as Bodhisattva Nyimi Ökyi Nyingpo (Essence of Sunlight), and his consort Heroine Shaundini, who is a manifestation of Bodhisattva Macha Chenmo (Great Powerful One). At the place of his two calves, Suwanadvipa, are Hero Akashagarbha, who is the same person as Bodhisattva Dorje Öser (Vajra Light Rays), and his consort Heroine Tzatrawarmini, who is a manifestation of Bodhisattva Logyonma (One Wearing Leaves). At the place of his eight fingers and eight toes, Nagara, are Hero Shri Heruka, who is the same person as Bodhisattva Tuchen Tog (Powerful Attainment), and his consort Heroine Subira, who is a manifestation of Bodhisattva Dorje Lukugyü (Continuous Circle of Vajras). At the place of the tops of his feet, Sindhura, are Hero Pemanarteshvara, who is the same person as Bodhisattva Norsang (Excellent Wealth), and his consort Heroine Mahabala, who is a manifestation of Bodhisattva Chirdog Chenmo (Great Pacifier). At the place of his two thumbs and two big toes, Maru, are Hero Vairochana, who is the same person as Bodhisattva Sangden (Excellent Carer), and his consort Heroine Tzatrawartini, who is a manifestation of Bodhisattva Tsugtor Kharmo (White Ushnisha). At the place of his two knees, Kuluta, are Hero Vajrasattva, who is the same person as Bodhisattva Lodro Gyatso (Ocean of Wisdom), and his consort Heroine Mahabire, who is a manifestation of Bodhisattva Dorje Jigma (Wrathful Vajra). These sixteen Deities of the body wheel are called the ‘Heroes and Heroines of the vajra body family’ because they are a manifestation of all Buddhas’ body.
The twenty-four Heroes and the twenty-four Heroines listed above are distinguished only by their aspect and function. In essence all these Deities are a manifestation of definitive Heruka and no different from Heruka himself.
Nagarjuna
VISUALIZING THE EIGHT HEROINES OF THE DOORWAYS
The eight doors of the senses are: (1) the root of the tongue, (2) the navel, (3) the sex organ, (4) the anus, (5) the point between the eyebrows, (6) the two ears, (7) the two eyes, and (8) the two nostrils. The channel at the root of his tongue appears as Kakase, the manifestation of Bodhisattva Kaouri, who is the consort of Aparajita, one of the ten wrathful Deities. The channel at his navel appears as Ulukase, the manifestation of Bodhisattva Tzowri, who is the consort of the wrathful Deity Amritakundalini. The channel at the door of his sex organ appears as Shönase, the manifestation of Bodhisattva Bukase, who is the consort of the wrathful Deity Hayagriva. The channel at the door of his anus appears as Shukarase, the manifestation of Bodhisattva Petali, who is the consort of the wrathful Deity Yamantaka. The channel at the point between his eyebrows appears as Yamadhati, the manifestation of Bodhisattva Kamari, who is the consort of the wrathful Deity Niladanda. The channels at his two ears appear as Yamaduti, the manifestation of Bodhisattva Shawati, who is the consort of the wrathful Deity Takkiraja. The channels at his two eyes appear as Yamadangtrini, the manifestation of Bodhisattva Dzandali, who is the consort of the wrathful Deity Achala. The channels at his two nostrils appear as Yamamatani, the manifestation of Bodhisattva Tombini, who is the consort of the wrathful Deity Mahabala. These Heroines differ only in their aspect and function; in essence they are no different from Heruka himself.
The four Yoginis of the essence and the central Deity Heruka Father and Mother are the Deities of the great bliss wheel. These, together with the sixteen Deities of the heart wheel, the sixteen Deities of the speech wheel, the sixteen Deities of the body wheel, and the eight Deities of the commitment wheel (the eight Heroines of the doorways), are the sixty-two Deities of the body mandala. They all appear within basis Guru Heruka’s body, which indicates that Guru Heruka is the synthesis of all Buddhas.
VISUALIZING THE OTHER HOLY BEINGS
From the heart of Guru Heruka, light radiates to his right where he emanates as Maitreya seated on a throne, lotus and moon disc. Maitreya is in the aspect of the Enjoyment Body, adorned with ornaments and silk garments. He sits in the half-vajra posture. His body is orange, with one face and two hands held at the level of his heart in the gesture of turning the Wheel of Dharma. Between the thumb and index finger of each hand he holds the stem of a naga tree. Beside his right ear the flower of one of the stems blooms and supports a golden wheel. Beside his left ear the flower of the other stem blooms and supports a long-necked vase.
In front of Maitreya, on a lotus and moon disc, sits Arya Asanga. His legs are crossed in such a way that his left leg extends from under his right thigh with the sole of his foot facing outwards, and his right leg, crossed over his left, extends several inches beyond his left knee. His right hand is in the gesture of expounding Dharma and his left hand is in the gesture of meditative equipoise. He wears the three robes of an ordained person and a Pandit’s hat. To his left is a spherical vessel. All the lineage Gurus of the vast path form a circle starting with Asanga and going clockwise around the central figure of Maitreya.
From the heart of Guru Heruka, light radiates to his left where he emanates as Manjushri seated on a throne, lotus and moon disc. His body is the same colour as Maitreya’s and he has the same posture except that instead of holding the stems of naga trees he holds the stems of upali flowers. The flower that blooms beside his right ear supports a wisdom sword, and the flower that blooms beside his left ear supports a text of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra in Eight Thousand Lines. This posture is known as ‘Manjushri Turning the Wheel of Dharma’.
In front of Manjushri sits Nagarjuna in the half-vajra posture, wearing the robes of an ordained person. His hands are in the gesture of expounding Dharma. He has a small crown-protrusion and, arched over his head without touching it, is a canopy of seven snakes. All the lineage Gurus of the profound path form a circle starting with Nagarjuna and going counter-clockwise around the central figure of Manjushri.
To the right of the lineage Gurus of the vast path sit the lineage Gurus of Kadam Lamrimpa, and to the left of the lineage Gurus of the profound path sit the lineage Gurus of Kadam Shungpawa. Behind the lineage Gurus of the vast path sit the lineage Gurus of Kadam Menngagpa. Each of these Kadampa Gurus sits on a lotus and moon disc.
From the heart of Guru Heruka, light radiates behind him where he emanates as Buddha Vajradhara, who in essence is our root Guru, seated on a throne, lotus, moon and sun disc. Surrounding him are all the lineage Gurus of Heruka body mandala, from Ghantapa up to Vajradhara Trijang Losang Yeshe Rinpoche.
From the heart of Guru Heruka, light radiates in