The life of Milarepa (1040-1123) according to his disciple Rechungpa narrated in the Mila Khabum he was the yogi of Tibet of all times. As he was not only a mendicant but also a poet and composer of thousand and one songs. Under Marpa, Milarepa studied and was subjected to power discipline, including the labour of building and repeatedly rebuilding the nine-story stone tower of “Shekhar Guthok” which still stands in Lho-dag (southern Tibet). He preserved however, in spite of every thing, and was also encouraged and sustained by the kindness of Marpas wife Nairatmya, later Milarepa learned that in his absence his widowed mother and family had been enslaved by evil uncle, and he went and took revenge by magical means. After that he turned to the life of wandering yogi, and lived in many solitary places. By virtue of the inner mystic heat (tummo) he was able to endure the coldest weather in only cotton clothing, hence his familiar name, Milarepa, ‘the cotton clad Milafl, dwelling at Mount Kailasha and lake Mansarovara. The position of seating of Milarepa seems to have been with lotus Asana. He was short and with curly hair and dressed by simple white cotton cloth wrapping his body. He always holds his right hand with a finger extended and the palm turned outwards behind his right ear, as if lie is listening the echoes of nature. His left hand holds a begging bowl.

Milarepa Thangka Painting

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