Vajrapani – Wielder of the Thunderbolt
Vajrapani is the embodiment of power of Lord Buddha’s compassion. Vajrapani is always depicted in wrathful aspect. Vajrapani’s body is blue in color and his hair having yellow ochre. Vajrapani wears a tiger skin around his waist and is usually depicted in two arms aspect but can be seen in four arms aspect too. Vajrapani is a major Bodhisattva easily recognized as holding vajra with his right hand and left hand displaying threatening vitarka mudra. His body seems to be massive and in a pose of warrior. Under his feet he controls two live snakes. Vajrapani wears all sorts of bodhisattva ornaments and also a garland of snakes. He has a wide and wild roaring mouth rimmed with lacquered red lips. His eyebrows are like the flame and mustache and beard being curled.
Vajrapani is often depicted with Avalokiteshvara and Manjushri representing Buddha’s power of compassion (Vajrapani), the great compassion (Avalokiteshvara) and the great wisdom (Manjushri). Vajrapani’s wrathfulness, snake ornament and his pose as warrior all serve to convey the force and vitality of the enlightened energy as it combats ignorance, greed, fear and other delusions. Vajrapani is said to be the companion Bodhisattva of Buddha Shakyamuni. While Buddha was residing at Gridhkuta hill, the site where Lord Buddha delivered Prajnaparamita doctrines, his jealous cousin Devadutt attempted to assassinate him. He sent a huge boulder rolling down the hill, but just as it was about to hit Buddha, Vajrapani appeared and split the boulder into pieces so that it could fall harmlessly near Buddha. Another story is that a Brahman called Ambattha was abusing Buddha with many vile and impure words. He saw Vajrapani appeared on the sky with his wrathful aspect. Terrified with Vajrapani, Brahman Ambattha confessed his evil deeds in front of Buddha Shakyamuni.
Gestures and Attributes
Vajrapani is depicted in the warrior’s pose, with one leg bent and the other outstretched. In his right hand, held aloft, he brandishes a vajra, representing his diamond-like motivation and impetus to accomplishment. His left hand holds a lasso, with which he binds the demons of delusion. He has three eyes, symbolizing his knowledge of past, present, and future. He wears a crown adorned with five human skulls, representing his transformation of the five poisons into the five transcendent wisdoms, as well as his purification of the five aggregates. Around his neck is a garland of serpents, a reminder of his aspect as protector of the nagas. He is clothed in a tiger-skin, and is surrounded by the blazing fire of exalted wisdom which consumes all neurotic states.
About this Sculpture
This beautiful 5.5” Vajrapani is machine made. Vajrapani wears a tiger skin around his waist and is usually depicted in two arms aspect but can be seen in four arms aspect too. Vajrapani is a major Bodhisattva easily recognized as holding vajra with his right hand and left hand displaying threatening vitarka mudra. His body seems to be massive and in a pose of warrior. Under his feet he controls two live snakes. Vajrapani wears all sorts of bodhisattva ornaments and also a garland of snakes. He has a wide and wild roaring mouth rimmed with lacquered red lips. His eyebrows are like the flame and moustache and beard being curled.
