The Eight Vidyadhara are the important Indian teachers associated with the Eight Pronouncement deities of the Nyingma tradition likely originating or promoted first by Nyangral Nyima Ozer (1124/1136- 192/1204 [P364]). Some of the names, such as Nagarjuna, are common and often conflated with the Madyamaka teacher, Arya Nagarjuna, of the 1st/2nd century of the common era. The eight figures are generally found as initiation cards or as secondary figures in painting sets depicting the eight principal forms of Padmasambhava. The Dege Parkang Block Print Set is a good example of all Eight Vidyadhara appearing at the top center of each of the compositions. (See additional HAR examples: #65094, 23380, 15868).
Eight Vidyadhara:
- Manjushrimitra.
- Nagarjuna.
- Humkara.
- Vimalamitra.
- Padmasambhava.
- Dhanasamskrita.
- Rambuguhya.
- Shantigarbha.
Eight Pronouncement Heruka:
1. Yamari (Manjushri Krodha) - body - Manjushrimitra.
2. Hayagriva - speech - Nagarjuna.
3. Samputa - mind - Humkara.
4. Vajramrita - quality - Vimalamitra.
5. Vajrakila - activity - Prabhahasti (Padmasambhava).
6. Mamo Botong (Matarah) - Dhanasamskrita.
7. Jigten Choto (Lokastotrapuja) - Rambuguhya.
8. Mopa Dranag (Vajramantrabhiru) - Shantigarbha.
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Vidyadhara or Rigdzin (Skt. vidyādhara; Tib. རིག་འཛིན་, rigdzin; Wyl. rig 'dzin) — while it is frequently translated as ‘awareness holder,’ caution is necessary. The Tibetan term rigdzin can indeed mean ‘awareness holder,’ however the equivalent Sanskrit term vidyadhara cannot. The reason is that the Sanskrit word vidya (Skt. vidyā) has a different range of meanings from its Tibetan counterpart rigpa (Tib. rig pa). The Sanskrit term vidyadhara can refer to either of two things:
Current usage, back translating the Tibetan term rigdzin, when intending to refer to an accomplished Dzogchen yogi, as vidyadhara is mistaken