རིག་སྔགས་འཆང་། | Glossary of Terms

A class of semi-divine being that is famous for wielding (dhara) spells (vidyā). Loosely understood as “sorcerers,” these magical beings are frequently petitioned through dhāraṇī and kriyātantra ritual to grant magical powers to the supplicant. The later Buddhist tradition, playing on the dual valences of vidyā as “spell” and “knowledge,” began to apply this term to realized figures in the Buddhist pantheon.

Popular in Indian literature as a race of superhuman beings with magical powers who lived high in the mountains, such as in the Malaya range of southwest India. The term vidyā could be interpreted as both “knowledge” and “mantra.”

A race of superhuman beings with magical powers who lived high in mountains, such as the Malaya range of southwest India. Also used for humans who have gained powers through their mantras.

A class of semidivine beings who are famous for wielding (dhara) spells (vidyā). Loosely understood as “sorcerers,” these magical beings are frequently petitioned through dhāraṇī and Kriyātantra ritual to grant magical powers to the supplicant. The later Buddhist tradition, playing on the dual valences of vidyā as “spell” and “knowledge,” began to apply this term to realized figures in the Buddhist pantheon.

A type of semi-divine being whose identity has shifted over time and genre. In their most popular form they are spell (vidyā) wielding (dhara) beings capable of granting magical abilities to those they favor. The Buddhist tradition associated them more closely with soteriological aims, identifying them as realized beings who possess (dhara) knowledge or awareness (vidyā).

A race of superhuman beings with magical powers who lived high in mountains, such as the Malaya range of southwest India. The term is also used for humans who have gained powers through their mantras and aptitude for spells.

In this text, it is unclear to which it refers.

A class of semi-divine beings that are famous for wielding (dhara) spells (vidyā). Loosely understood as “sorcerers,” these magical beings are frequently petitioned through dhāraṇī and kriyātantra ritual to grant magical powers to the supplicant. The later Buddhist tradition, playing on the dual valences of vidyā as “spell” and “knowledge,” began to apply this term to realized figures in the Buddhist pantheon.

“Knowledge holder”; one possessed of magical powers; a class of semi-divine beings.

A type of semidivine being whose identiy has shifted over time and genre. In their most popular form they are spell- (vidyā) wielding (dhara) beings capable of granting magical abilities to those they favor. The Buddhist tradition associated them more closely with soteriological aims, identifying them as realized beings who possess (dhara) knowledge or awareness (vidyā).

Literally “knowledge holder”‍—this term refers either to someone who has mastered the vidyā, i.e. the power of the mantra, or to a class of semidivine beings.

One possessed of vidyā; this could refer to any being who is an adept of magical lore, but in particular to the class of semidivine, nonhuman beings of the same name. The term is rendered elsewhere in this translation as “knowledge holder” or “adept of vidyās.”

“Knowledge holder,” a being possessed of magical powers.

A class of semidivine beings that are known for wielding (dhara) spells (vidyā). Loosely understood as “sorcerers.” The later Buddhist tradition, playing on the dual valences of vidyā as “spell” and “knowledge,” began to apply this term to realized beings. 

Meaning those who wield (dhara) spells (vidyā), the term is used to refer to both a class of nonhuman beings who wield magical power and human practitioners of the magical arts. The latter usage is especially prominent in the Kriyātantras, which are often addressed to the human vidyādhara. The Tibetan Buddhist tradition, playing on the dual valences of vidyā as “spell” and “knowledge,” began to apply this term more broadly to realized figures in the Buddhist pantheon.

A term used to refer to a practitioner of Buddhist rituals that feature the use of incantations (vidyā) and mantras as a means to bring about mundane and transcendent goals.

Meaning those who wield (dhara) spells (vidyā), the term is used to refer to both a class of nonhuman beings who wield magical power and human practitioners of the magical arts. The latter usage is especially prominent in the Kriyātantras, which are often addressed to the human vidyādhara. The Tibetan Buddhist tradition, playing on the dual valences of vidyā as “spell” and “knowledge,” began to apply this term more broadly to realized figures in the Buddhist pantheon.

A class of supernatural beings.

Meaning those who wield (dhara) spells (vidyā), the term is used to refer to both a class of supernatural beings who wield magical power and human practitioners of the magical arts. The latter usage is especially prominent in the Kriyātantras, which are often addressed to the human vidyādhara. The later Buddhist tradition, playing on the dual valences of vidyā as “spell” and “knowledge,” began to apply this term more broadly to realized figures in the Buddhist pantheon.

Meaning those who wield (dhara) spells (vidyā), the term is used to refer to both a class of supernatural beings who wield great magical power and human practitioners of the magical arts. The latter usage is especially prominent in the Kriyātantras, which are often addressed to the human vidyādhara. The later Buddhist tradition, playing on the dual valences of vidyā as “spell” and “knowledge,” began to apply this term more broadly to realized figures in the Buddhist pantheon.

Meaning those who wield (dhara) spells (vidyā), the term is used to refer to both a class of supernatural beings who wield great magical power and human practitioners of the magical arts. The latter usage is especially prominent in the Kriyātantras, which are often addressed to the human vidyādhara. The later Buddhist tradition, playing on the dual valences of vidyā as “spell” and “knowledge,” began to apply this term more broadly to realized figures in the Buddhist pantheon.

Meaning those who wield (dhara) spells (vidyā), the term is used to refer to both a class of supernatural beings who wield great magical power and human practitioners of the magical arts. The latter usage is especially prominent in the Kriyātantras, which are often addressed to the human vidyādhara. The later Buddhist tradition, playing on the dual valences of vidyā as “spell” and “knowledge,” began to apply this term more broadly to realized figures in the Buddhist pantheon.

“Knowledge holder” is a class of semidivine beings renowned for their magical power (vidyā). When referring to the practitioner, the term has been translated as “vidyā holder.”

A class of semidivine being that is famous for wielding (dhara) spells (vidyā). Loosely understood as “sorcerers,” these magical beings are frequently petitioned through dhāraṇī and Kriyātantra ritual to grant magical powers to the supplicant. The later Buddhist tradition, playing on the dual valences of vidyā as “spell” and “knowledge,” began to apply this term to realized figures in the Buddhist pantheon. The term is often applied to practitioners of Buddhist ritual magic.

A class of semidivine beings possessed of magical powers (vidyā); also any person or being possessed of such powers, usually derived from the mastery of a mantra (vidyā) of a female deity (vidyā).

A class of nonhuman beings that are famous for wielding (dhara) spells (vidyā). Loosely understood as “sorcerers,” these magical beings are frequently petitioned through dhāraṇī and Kriyātantra ritual to grant magical powers to the supplicant. The later Buddhist tradition, playing on the dual valences of vidyā as “spell” and “knowledge,” began to apply this term to realized figures in the Buddhist pantheon.

The human ritual specialist and officiant in Kriyātantra and other esoteric Buddhist rites.

A term for a specialist in rituals involving the recitation of spells (vidyā) and mantras.

The term literally means “possessor of vidyā” and refers to practitioners of mantra. When the term is used in the sense of “vidyādhara” (a class of semidivine beings), it has been rendered in its Sanskrit form.

See “vidyādhara.”

See “vidyādhara.”