In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Vajrayana

Putalipa is the name of a mahāsiddha, of which eighty-four in total are recognized in Vajrayāna (tantric buddhism). His title is “the mendicant icon-bearer”. He lived somewhere between the 8th and the 12th century AD.

These mahāsiddhas (e.g., Putalipa) are defined according to the Abhayadatta Sri (possibly Abhayākaragupta) tradition. Its textual origin traces to the 11th century caturāsiti-siddha-pravṛtti, or “the lives of the eighty-four siddhas”, of which only Tibetan translations remains. Putalipa (and other Mahāsiddhas) are the ancient propounders of the textual tradition of tantric or Vajrayana Buddhism.

context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

India history and geography

Source: Wisdom Library: Teachers, Saints and Sages

Putalipā (पुतलिपा) refers to one of the eighty-four Siddhas (Siddhācāryas) of the Sahajayāna school, according to sources such as the Varṇaratnākara of Jyotirīśvara (i.e., the Varna-Ratnakara by Jyotirishwar Thakur).—The Sahaja-Yana is a philosophical and esoteric movement of Tantric Buddhism which had enormous influence in the Indian subcontinent and the Himalayas.—Many of these Mahāsiddhas [e.g., Putalipā] were historical figures whose lives and mystical powers were the subject of legends. They are often associated with teachings belonging to Hinduism, Buddhism, Ajivikism and Jainism such as the Nath Tradition.

Putalipā is also known as Putalipāda, Putali, Puttali, Putulipā.

[For more information regarding Putalipa and other Maha-Siddhas, see the following sources: (1): Lalan Prasad Singh in his Tantra, Its Mystic and Scientific Basis as well as his Buddhist Tantra: A Philosophical Reflection and Religious Investigation; (2) Kamal Prashad Sharma in his Manimahesh Chamba Kailash; (3) Dr. Ram Kumar Varma in his work ‘Hindi Sahitya Ka Aalochanatmak Itihas’ (1948) referring to Rahul Sankrityayan]; (4) Keith Dowman in his translation of Masters of Mahāmudrā: Songs and Histories of the Eighty-Four Buddhist Siddhas.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Pa, Putali.

Starts with: Putalipada.

Full-text: Putali, Eighty-four siddhas, Putalipada, Putulipa, Puttali.

Relevant text

No search results for Putalipa, Putalipā, Putali-pā, Putali-pa; (plurals include: Putalipas, Putalipās, pās, pas) in any book or story.