From India to Tibet: The Journey of the Amṛtasiddhi Lineage and Teachings

Yogi Sangye Nyentön (12th–13th century), the first Shangpa Kagyu master to receive the Amṛtasiddhi yoga teachings.

Amṛtasiddhi Lineage Masters in the Shangpa Kagyu Tradition

• Virūpa
  (In some texts, also referred to as Black Virūpa or Krishna Virūpa¹)

• Krishna Vipra²
  (Tib. Dramzé Nakpo, “Black Brahmin”)

• Durtrö Nakpo
  “Black Charnel Ground Dweller”

• Latö Gönpo

• Sangye Nyentön
  (also known as Rigongpa)

• Tsöndrü Sengé
  (also known as Sangye Tönpa)

Homage to the Amṛtasiddhi Lineage Masters According to the Amṛtasiddhi thirty-two Trulkhor Text composed by Tsöndrü Sengé

I bow to the most powerful and supremely realized Yogeshwara, the glorious Virūpa.

I bow to Krishna Vipra (bram ze nag po), perfected in all siddhis, immortal in body and mind, revered and praised by all beings.

I bow to Durtrö Nakpo, the Black Charnel Ground Dweller, who was directly prophesied by the Ḍākinī to attain enlightenment in the Bardo.

Homage to Latö Gönpo, immaculate and fully realized, who has released the channel-knots of afflictive emotions (kleśa).

I bow to Sangye Nyentön, for whom even the unhindered blazing thunderbolt becomes a flower ornament.

Homage to the Amṛtasiddhi Lineage Masters According to the Amṛtasiddhi Trulkhor Text

I pray to the noble master,
Black Virūpa of Oḍḍiyāna.
Grant your blessing: may my channels and vital winds function properly,
and may the bodhicitta bindu flourish.

I pray to the noble master,
the Black Charnel Ground Dweller of Trengwa Chen’s charnel ground.
Grant your blessing: may my channels and vital winds function properly,
and may the bodhicitta bindu flourish.

I pray to the noble master,
Krishna Vipra—the Black Brahmin of Oḍḍiviśa.
Grant your blessing: may my channels and vital winds function properly,
and may the bodhicitta bindu flourish.

I pray to the siddha—Drupthop Latö Gönpo,
from an unknown land north of Bhaga.
Grant your blessing: may my channels and vital winds function properly,
and may the bodhicitta bindu flourish.

I pray to Nyentön Sangye,
of Rigong’s hermitage.
Grant your blessing: may my channels and vital winds function properly,
and may the bodhicitta bindu flourish.

I pray to Drogön Sangye Tönpa.
Grant your blessing: may my channels and vital winds function properly,
and may the bodhicitta bindu flourish.

The Story of How Virūpa’s Amṛtasiddhi Yoga Entered the Tibetan Shangpa Kagyu Tradition

Sangye Nyentön, the first Shangpa master to hold the Amṛtasiddhi lineage, faced obstacles due to the force of past negative karma. He sought out various masters and engaged in numerous sādhanas, yet none of his efforts succeeded in removing the hindrance. One day, he journeyed to a place called Shulo Pangkha, where he made a firm resolve: he would either die there or overcome the obstacle completely, so that he could devote himself single-pointedly to the path of Buddhahood. With that determination, he entered a strict three-year retreat.

During the retreat, on one occasion, Sangye Nyentön felt a sudden desire to rise. As he looked outside, he saw a yogi approaching. He asked him, “Where are you from? Who is your guru? What do you know?”

The yogi replied, “I come from India. My guru is Durtröpa—the Black Charnel Ground Dweller—and I know the Amṛtasiddhi Trulkhor.”

Upon hearing this, Sangye Nyentön said, “Then I must receive this teaching from you.”

The yogi responded, “This is a teaching for kings. To receive it, you must offer great wealth.”

Since Sangye Nyentön could not offer such wealth, he felt some hesitation about receiving the teaching. At that time, he had many disciples from the Kham region, and they all said, “Master, please receive the teaching—we will take care of all the required offerings.”

With their support, Sangye Nyentön received the Amṛtasiddhi yoga teachings. That very night, all his previous hindrances were spontaneously purified. After giving the teaching, the yogi, Latö Gönpo, did not accept the offering he had originally demanded. Seven months later, he composed the entire Amṛtasiddhi Trulkhor text.

1. In the second text, homage is paid to Black Virūpa. Nag-po Bi-ru-pa (Black Virūpa) is called Kṛṣṇa Virūpa in ‘Jam-dbyangs mkhyen-brtse’i dbang-po’s text (see ’Jam dbyangs mkhyen brtse dbang po, “Grub brgya’i byin rlabs.” Vol. 14, p. 337): / nag po bi rU pa la ’dud / Kri sh+Na bi rU pa da zhes bsgyur /.

2. The 4th Zhamar uses the Sanskrit name Krishna Vipra for the “Black Brahmin” in his list of Amṛtasiddhi lineage masters.