WHO WAS KĀNHA-PĀ? VAJRAYANA MAHASIDDHA, NATH YOGI OR KAPALIKA?
Kanhapa  (or Krsnacarya ), the 'Dark-Skinned One' (or the ' Dark Siddha ') is one of 84 Mahasiddhas of Tibbeten Buddhism . He is also known as  Kṛṣnapada, Kanhupada, Kanha-pa, Kanha, Acharya Charyapa, Kaniphanath, Kanari-nath, Kanupa,kanipa ...&more. Along with that  Kanhupada is considered as influential Yogi in the Hindu tradition of Nath Yogis ( Sàiva ) also. Both  Hindu &Buddhist tradition have their own 84 list of siddhas out of which many siddhas are common.Sahajanyana tradition of Bengal also includes him as masters. Today we will Closely examine mystery surrounding kanhupada & 'kapalik' angle in it. According to Buddhist tantric Lore,kanhpa    was initiated into the mandala of the deity Hevajra by his guru Jalandhara. Guru Jalandhar  was also listed in Nathyoga tradition as a guru of kanhupada . Jalandhar was also known as hallikapada & hadipa .  According to CharyaacharyaNishchaya  or    Charypada  (Collection of poetry co...