Shalipa: The Jackal Yogin

Shalipa was born into a poor family, and could only afford to live at the edge of the city cremation ground. Every night, he sweated and trembled listening to the terrifying cries of the jackals who roamed the place.

A monk came to Shalipa's home to asked for food, which Shalipa happily provided him. When night came, Shalipa felt a great fear come over him as the jackals began to make their awful cries.

The monk told Shalipa that he could free him from his fear, which greatly relieved the poor man. The monk instructed him to build a hut at the center of the cremation ground and meditate upon the cries of the jackals; though terrified, Shalipa agreed. After nine years living in that hut, Shalipa dissolved all fear and attained realization.

From the Biographies of the 84 Mahasiddhas, as recorded by twelfth century Indian scholar Abhayadatta Sri and translated into Tibetan By Möndrup Sherab. The beautifully illustrated text explores the personalities of the 84 and the miraculous occurrences that marked their lives. This manuscript is made available to TBRC by the Cultural History of the Western Himalaya Project,"Tibetan Manuscripts," at the University of Vienna. TBRC Library Work I.D: W8LS15975