yidam

English

A painting depicting the yidam Chakrasamvara

Etymology

From Tibetan ཡི་དམ (yi dam), (Sanskrit: समादान (samādān) or སམཱདཱནི (samādāni)).

Noun

yidam (plural yidams)

1. (Tibetan Buddhism) A type of deity associated with tantric or Vajrayana Buddhism said to be manifestations of Buddhahood or enlightened mind.
   • 2004, Chogyam Trungpa, The Collected Works of Chogyam Trungpa‎^[1], volume 7:

     Yidams are not to be equated with the patron saints or guardian angels found in the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions.

Anagrams

• yadim