Mahasiddha facts for kids

Mahasiddha Ghantapa, from Situ Panchen's set of thangka depicting the Eight Great Tantric Adepts. 18th century

A mahasiddha (Sanskrit: maha - great, siddha - achiever) is type of yogi important in Tantra. They are found in both Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism. They are connected with unusual ways of thinking and with the highest levels of spiritual enlightenment. They are very different from arhats, the saints who gave up the world to achieve Buddhahood.

The Mahasiddhas are actual people who lived in the past who had magical powers because of their spiritual practice. A mahasiddha is a bodhisattva, someone who can enter nirvana whenever they want, but instead choose to stay in samsara to help others.

In both Hindu and Tibetan Buddhist traditions there are 84 Mahasiddhas. The lists are not all the same, but there are many Mahasiddhas who appear on most lists. In Tibetan Buddhist art, they are often shown in paintings together, for example around the border of a thanka.

Important Mahasiddhas

Each Mahasiddha has come to be known for certain things. One of the most loved Mahasiddhas is Virupa, who is a saint of the Sakyapa sect. He lived in 9th century India and was known for his great attainments. Other important Mahasiddhas include:

• Marpa, the great translator and first native-born guru in Tibet who brought Buddhist teachings from India.
• Milarepa, Marpa's student . In Buddhist pictures and statues, Milarepa is shown with his right hand cupped against his ear. He does this to better listen to the teachings (dharma).
• Karmapa, the first consciously incarnating lama of Tibet.

• Gorakshanath
• Matsyendranath
• Nagarjuna
• Naropa
• Saraha
• Shantideva
• Tilopa

Complete list of Mahasiddhas

In Buddhism there are 84 Mahasiddhas: Acinta, Ajogi, Anangapa, Aryadeva, Babhaha, Bhadrapa, Bhandepa, Bhiksanapa, Bhusuku, Camaripa, Campaka, Carbaripa, Catrapa, Caurangipa, Celukapa, Darikapa, Dengipa, Dhahulipa, Dharmapa, Dhilipa, Dhobipa, Dhokaripa Dombipa, Dukhandi, Ghantapa, Gharbari, Godhuripa, Goraksa, Indrabhuti, Jalandhara, Jayananda, Jogipa, Kalapa, Kamparipa, Kambala, Kanakhala, Kanhapa, Kankana, Kankaripa, Kantalipa, Kapalapa, Khadgapa, Kilakilapa, Kirapalapa, Kokilipa, Kotalipa, Kucipa, Kukkuripa, Kumbharipa, Laksminkara, Lilapa, Lucikapa, Luipa, Mahipa, Manibhadra, Medhini, Mekhala, Mekopa, Minapa, Nagabodhi, Nagarjuna, Nalinapa, Naropa, Nirgunapa, Pacaripa, Pankajapa, Putalipa, Rahula, Saraha, Sakara, Samudra, Santipa, Sarvabhaksa, Savaripa, Syalipa, Tantepa, Tantipa, Thaganapa, Tilopa, Udhilipa, Upanaha, Vinapa, Virupa, Vyalipa.

Images for kids

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  Four Mahasiddhas (18th century, Boston MFA). Saraha in top left, Dombhi Heruka top right, Naropa bottom left, and Virupa bottom right.

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  Milarepa on Mount Kailash

See also

In Spanish: Mahāsiddha para niños