Buddhas, siddhas, and Indian masculine ideals

This chapter charts a shift in Indian Buddhist paradigms of ideal masculinity from the Buddha—conceived as both the ideal scholar-priest and also as the paragon of warriors and rulers—to the figure of the tantric siddha. Siddhas, unlike earlier paradigms, are often physically ordinary. They are distinguished not by their physical appearance, but by their possession of magical powers. This shift is a core element of the tantras, which emphasize ritual and meditative practices that lead to the development of supernatural abilities, which are used to advance their religious careers and benefit others. This represents a significant new development in Indian Buddhism, one that was part of the transgressive aspect of the tantric corpus.