Mahasiddha
Mahasiddha is a Sanskrit term meaning “great accomplished one.” In Buddhist tantric contexts, a mahasiddha is a practitioner who, through intense yogic disciplines and tantric realization, has attained the siddhis—spiritual powers such as clairvoyance, mastery over elements, or other advanced attainments—along with profound wisdom. Mahasiddhas are revered as teachers and exemplars whose unconventional methods and direct realization challenged conventional norms.
Historically, the label appears in Indian tantric Buddhist literature from roughly the 6th to 12th centuries.
The mahasiddha tradition emphasizes experiential realization, often expressed through songs, stories, and iconography that highlight compassion,