Eight Sadhana Teachings
Eight Sadhana Teachings, Eight Commands, Eight Pronouncements : Information on Kabgye, the Eight Sadhana Teachings & Eight Vidyadharas
in various forms of translation
Eight Sadhana Teachings (sgrub pa bka' brgyad). Eight chief yidam deities of Mahayoga and their corresponding tantras and sadhanas that were transmitted to Guru Rinpoche by the eight Indian vidyadharas: Manjushri Body, Lotus Speech, Vishuddha Mind, Nectar Quality, Kilaya Activity, Liberating Sorcery of Mother Deities, Maledictory Fierce Mantra, and Mundane Worship. Often the name refers to a single practice involving complex mandalas with numerous deities. Also Assemblage of Sugatas and Sadhana Section.
Eight Vidyadharas (rig ‘dzin brgyad). Manjushrimitra, Nagarjuna, Hungkara, Vimalamitra, Prabhahasti, Dhana Sanskrita, Shintam Garbha, and Guhyachandra.
Assemblage of Sugatas (bde gshegs 'dus pa). 'Deshek Düpa.' Important cycle of teachings connected to the Sadhana Section of Mahayoga. The tantras belonging to this cycle are found in Vol. OM of the Nyingma Gyubum as well as in the revelations of Nyang Ral Nyima Oser. These teachings were transmitted by Samantabhadra, manifest in the form of the peaceful Vajrasattva and wrathful Chemchok Heruka. The Lord of Secrets compiled and entrusted them to the dakini Leykyi Wangmo. She concealed these tantras in the stupa Enchanting Mound (bde byed brtsegs pa, Shankara Kuta) and later transmitted them to the Eight Vidyadharas, one teaching to each master: Manjushri Body to Manjushrimitra, Lotus Speech to Nagarjuna, Vishuddha Mind to Hungkara, Nectar Quality to Vimalamitra, Kilaya Activity to Prabhahasti, Liberating Sorcery of Mother Deities to Dhana Sanskrita, Maledictory Fierce Mantra to Shintam Garbha, and Mundane Worship to Guhyachandra. Each of these vidyadharas later transmitted their teachings to Padmasambhava who then became the main holder of all.
Manjushri Body (‘jam dpal sku). The heruka of the Tathagata Body family or the tantric teachings connected to this deity among the ‘Eight Sadhana Teachings.’ Also known as Yamantaka, the wrathful form of Manjushri.
Amrita (bdud rtsi). Same as 'Nectar Quality,' the heruka of the ratna family among the Eight Sadhana Teachings and the tantric teachings connected with that deity.
