He's one of the wrathful forms of Tibetan iconography, a protector of the Dharma. He can represent fierce energy. He is also called Chana Dorji and Chador.
Vajrapani has a bulging third eye in the center of his forehead. He has 5 skulls on his Bodhisattva crown. He could wield a thunderbolt.
In early Buddhist iconography he is standing next to the Buddha like a security guard, he is a protector.
Vajrapani is part of the Akshobhya family. The five Jinas, the 5 Tathagatas organize all the deities. Akshobhya is about the wisdom on non-duality, wisdom of reflection, mirror knowledge. He is associated with the water element. He can be black or blue like water, or white, the sun glinting off water. He transmutes the energy of anger into skillful energy.
Vajrapani "is one of the earliest-appearing bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism. He is the protector and guide of Gautama Buddha and rose to symbolize the Buddha's power."
Shakti is another word for the consort, and I can't find a name for the Vajrapani consort or Shakti. They are standing in a pratyalidha posture. He has a tiger skin loin cloth. They sometimes trample someone. It represents the primordial union of wisdom and compassion, depicted as a male deity in union with his female consort through the similar ideas of interpenetration or "coalescence". The male figure represents compassion and skillful means, while the female partner represents insight. (Wikipedia)
In Gandahar art with Vajrapani, there's a connection to Heracles (Hercules). Below is Hercules holding up the world in front of Rockefeller Center off 5th Avenue.
He's also connected to Indra and Zeus, wielder of a thunderbolt. Lightning is often seen as a flash of insight in Buddhism. In Buddhism the Vajra is the symbol of lightning.
Vajrapani is in the Pali Canon in the Ambattha Sutta. He is also a Yaksha elsewhere.
I've had a picture of Vajrapani on my door, for when I leave my house. I have been feeling fierce the past few days, and today Vajrapani appeared to me.
Links
You can buy for 20k pounds at Sotheby's from the 16th century. You can get a reproduction for $20. You can even get a t-shirt of it.
Did I leave something out? Please comment.
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