Tantipa, the “Senile Weaver”, was one of the 84 Indian Vajrayana Mahasiddhas….

丹帝巴，”老織工”，是古印度金剛乘八十四大成就者之一….

丹帝巴是桑多納噶拉城的一個織工，因早年努力紡織，積聚了無量的財富，替每個兒子都娶好人家的女兒做妻子。丹帝巴八十九歲時，因妻子過世，傷心過度而衰弱不堪。而媳婦們因他舉止老邁而厭惡，於是在花園裡建一座草屋讓丹帝巴單獨居住，並輪流送飯給他吃。

一天，匝蘭達拉上師來向老織工的長子托缽化緣。老織工的兒子們請上師到家裡應供。夜晚，丹帝巴發現匝蘭達拉，匝蘭達拉便傳授丹帝巴喜金剛灌頂，之後便繼續雲遊四方。丹帝巴則秘密修行。十二年後，一日宴會媳婦忘記送飯，半夜想起才送，卻發現草屋放光，裏頭佳餚美女皆非人間物，後老織工返老還童成十六歲，度化眾生，許多桑多納噶拉城的人也跟丹帝巴一同進入了空行淨土。(維基百科)

There was once a fine weaver who lived in Sendhonagar. He worked very hard and managed to build a prosperous trade, a skill he later imparted to his many sons that brought greater wealth to the family. As time passed, at the age of 89, the old man’s wife passed away. Deeply sadden from his lost, he aged swiftly and became senile, unable to care for himself. His daughters-in-laws began looking after him for quite some time. However, they grew tired of the constantly complaints. They eventually banished him from the household into a grass hut out in the garden that they built for the old man. Although they continued to care for the old man’s basic needs, he grew bitter and angry.

One day, the guru Jalandhara passed through Sendhonaga and among those he approached for food was the weaver’s eldest son. The family invited the holy man and treated him well. When invited to stay the night, Jalandhara refused, saying that it was not his custom to sleep on comfortable beds indoors. Jalandhara then went out to the garden, and as he was about to fall a sleep, he heard an old voice speaking to itself. A conversation started and soon, Jalandhara spotted the hut. At the old man’s invitation he entered the hut, sat down, and listened to the old man’s tale of woe on how hollow life’s promises are.

The guru thought for a moment and replied, “everything we make or do is but a passing show. Everything that enters into existence enters into suffering. Everything is hollow illusion. Only in nirvana can peace and happiness be found. Would you like me to give you the instruction that prepares one for death?” With a firm and sure voice, the old man replied “Yes. The guru then initiated him into the mandala of Hevajra, and thought him how to meditate.

For the next 12 years, he practiced diligently. During this time, he attained certain powers. It remained secret until one day, during a family celebration, the wife of his eldest son went to his hut to send the old man a platter of food. When she entered the hut, she saw the old man suffused in a lamp-like radiance, sitting in a circle of fifteen beautiful girls. Each feeding the weaver of the most sumptuous food. By morning, the entire city heard of the amazing tale. People came to stare. Some even prostrated themselves before the hut.

When the weaver emerged from his hut, he was no longer a senile old man. He had transformed into a 16 year old boy, radiating such magnificent bright light, with a body that was like a highly polished mirror. He came to be known as the guru Tantipa. For numerous years he spent it on selfless acts. He later assumed into the Paradise of the Dakinis.

Mahasiddha Tangtepa ||
大成就者 丹諜巴


84 Mahasiddhas ||
84 大成就者


Mahasiddha Tilopa ||
大成就者 帝洛巴