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aṣṭa-śmaśāna-nāma

Eight cemeteries

     I prostrate myself before the glorious Heruka!
     O glorious hero, Heruka! Thou art beautiful with joint-born joy! You bestow the special fruit of food and liberation! I prostrate to the lotus feet of the teacher-guru!
     The cemetery tree, the protector of direction, the nagas who scatter water [clouds] - abide in the classification of names and directions. I will make a note for memorization.
     In directions such as east to the left, etc., and in directions of the northeast to the right - within the vajra tent there are connections of four and four [directions]. The manifest ones are the essence of Gahara, the highest of the fierce ones, and possess a mouthpiece with bubbling flames.
     The utterly terrifying indeed are found beginning from the eastern direction and continuing to the left. In the northeast direction is Attahasa. In [the direction of] the southeast is Lakshi. In the direction of the southwest is the terrifying darkness. In the northwest direction, the sounding Kilikila. In the cemeteries within the vajra tent [manifest] the terrifying forms of clusters of the living dead, bhuta, and the terrifying sounds of jackals.
     In this sequence of such [manifestations], the eight cemeteries are the place. What are the tree, the protector of direction, the lord of the nagas, the lord of the rain-cloud there? Shirasha, ashwadha, kamkelle, the chuta tree. In the intermediate [directions], as above, karanja, Indra, Vaishravana. From the side of the lords of the nagas [appear] the lord of Yama. From the northeast - lord Agni, lord Rakshas and lord of wind. Vasukira, Taksaka, Karkotaka, Padma, Mahapadma, Huluhulu, Kulika and Shankhapala [also appear in succession].
     Garji, Ghurmito, Ghora, Apato, Ghana, Parhana, Purana, and Chanda are the lords of the rain-clouds.
     Translated by the Indian preceptor Ratna Sri Mitra and the monk Shakya Yeshe. Translated by Lama Karma Paljor.