Vajrapani (Tibetan: Chag Na Dor)

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The Vajra Holder: one of the eight heart-sons of the Buddha Shakyamuni.

Peaceful in appearance, dark blue in color, he has one face and two hands. The right hand holds to the heart an upright gold vajra sceptre and the left upraised in the act of performing a mudra (gesture). The black hair is worn on the crown of the head with some falling loose, decorated with a delicate pink blossom. Adorned with gold earrings, a necklace and bracelets he is richly attired in various coloured silk garments of orange, yellow and red. In a relaxed posture with the legs loosely placed he sits atop a soft moon disc and pink lotus blossom above a rocky outcropping. Framed by an expansive areola of ethereal light, in the shade of a large wizened tree he dwells placidly against a spacious background.

In the Sutra tradition of Mahayana Buddhism the bodhisattva Vajrapani is regarded as one of the 8 heart-sons of Shakyamuni Buddha and portrayed in a peaceful appearance. In the tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism, Vajrapani is typically shown in a wrathful form and further known as Guhyapati - 'the Lord of Secrets.' Historically he is the main recipient, holder and protector of all the Tantra texts and teachings received from the Buddha Shakyamuni (in the appearance of Vajradhara). From the model of the Lower Tantras Vajrapani symbolizes the body of all buddhas of the ten directions and three times and represents enlightened activity. The bodhisattva Manjushri represents mind and Avalokiteshvara that of speech. In practice Vajrapani is a tutelary deity with numerous forms found in all levels of Tantra and popular in all traditions of Tibetan Buddhism - new and old.