The power of all Buddhas – Vajrapani Krodha

Vajrapani Krodha has five garudas according to a Marpa Kagyu lineage. Vajrapani Krodha is known as a wrathful meditational deity. Vajrapani Krodh is representing the power of all Buddhas.

The reverse of the painting of Krodha Vajrapani is decorated with a drawing of a stupa to represent the mind of all enlightened ones. Each of the figures of human teachers and deities is mar marked with the three letters, ‘om ah hum’, representing the wisdom aspect of the body (om), speech (ah), and mind (hum). The six Garudas surrounding the central figure of Vajrapani are marked with the single letter ‘a’.

Vajrapani Krodha is known as chag na dor je in Tibet. Vajrapani Krodha is also known as the Vajra Holder, Wrathful in English.

 Iconography of Vajrapani Krodha

In the iconography of Vajrapani Krodha, we are going to learn about his body posture, hand and leg gesture, and different representations of Vajrapani Krodha in thangka and statue.

Vajrapani Krodha is wrathful in appearance. Vajrapani Krodha is blue in color. Vajrapani Krodha has one face and two hands.

The right-hand of Vajrapani Krodha holds a vajra scepter upraised with the index finger extended in a wrathful gesture. The left hand of Vajrapani Krodha is extended to the left side also in a wrathful gesture. He wears a skull crown, bone and jewel ornaments, a multi-colored scarf, an elephant skin, a necklace of freshly severed heads, and a tiger skin lower garment.

He is standing in a posture with the right knee bent atop two prone figures, a sun disc, and a multi-colored lotus. He is surrounded by the flames of pristine awareness fire.

Depicting Buddhist Deity Vajrapani Krodha Thangka

The thangka of Buddhist deity Vajrapani Krodha is from Tibet. It is made between 1300 to 1399 AD. Buddhist deity Vajrapani Krodha is from Kagyu and Buddhist lineages. The base of the painting is ground mineral pigment on cotton. This thangka is from a private collection.

By depicting this thangka, we are going to learn about the presentation of Vajrapani Krodha with Manjushri and Chaturbhuja Lokeshvara, Korwa Dongdru, and Pagdru Lineage, etc.

Manjushri and Chaturbhuja Lokeshvara

Manjushri and Chaturbhuja Lokeshvara are presented at the lower left side of the thangka.

Korwa Dongdru

Korwa Dongdru is presented on the lower right side of the thangka. Korwa Dongdru is in a standing position. Korwa Dongdru is known as the red deity.

Pagdru Lineage

Pagdru Lineage is presented from the left to the rights sides of the composition.

Previously, we learned about the life of Vajrapani Krodha, the iconography of Vajrapani Krodha, and depicting Buddhist deity Vajrapani Krodha thangka. Now, we are going to learn about the presentation of Vajrapani Krodha with Kalachakra thangka.

Vajrapani Krodha with Kalachakra Thangka

The thangka of Buddhist deity Vajrapani Krodha with Kalachakra is from Tibet. It is made between 1700 to 1799 AD. Buddhist deity Vajrapani Krodha with Kalachakra is from Jonang (Sakya) and Buddhist lineages. The base of the painting is ground mineral pigment on cotton. This thangka is from a private collection.

By depicting this thangka, we are going to learn about the presentation of Vajrapani Krodha with Padmasambhava and Hayagriva Heruka, Vajrakila, and a Jonang teacher, and Eight Great Naga Kings, etc.

Kalachakra is presented at the top center of the thangka. Kalachakra is a term used in Puranic text and in Vajrayana Buddhism. Kalachakra is one of many tantric teachings and esoteric practices in Indian Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism.

The tradition’s origins are in India and its most active later history and presence has been in the monasteries of Tibet. The tradition combines myth and history, whereby actual historical events become an allegory for the spiritual drama within a person, drawing symbolic or allegorical lessons for inner transformation towards realizing Buddha-nature.

Padmasambhava and Hayagriva Heruka

Padmasambhava and Hayagriva Heruka are presented on the left side of the thangka.

Vajrakila and Jonang Teacher

Vajrakila and a Jonang teacher are presented on the right side of the thangka. Vajrakila and a Jonang teacher are wearing monastic attire.

Eight Great Naga Kings

Eight Great Naga Kings are presented at the right and left sides of the thangka.

Previously, we learned about the life of Vajrapani Krodha, the iconography of Vajrapani Krodha, depicting Buddhist deity Vajrapani Krodha thangka, and the representation of Vajrapani Krodha with Kalachakra thangka. Now, we are going to learn about the presentation of Vajrapani Krodha with Black Jambhala thangka.

Vajrapani Krodha with Black Jambhala Thangka

The thangka of Buddhist deity Vajrapani Krodha with Black Jambhala is from Tibet. Buddhist deity Vajrapani Krodha with Black Jambhala is from Kagyu and Buddhist lineages. Ground mineral pigment on cotton and gold background is used to color this thangka. This thangka is from a private collection.

By depicting this thangka, we are going to learn about the Vajrapani Krodha.

Black Jambhala is presented at the bottom center of the thangka. Black Jambhala is popularized by Shakyasribhadra. He is the God of Wealth in Tibetan Buddhism.

Black Jambhala is known as nag po, dzam bha la in Tibet. Black Jambhaka is a wealthy deity popularized in Tibet by Bari Lotsawa and the Kashmiri teacher Shakyashri Bhadra.

Vajrapani Krodha is standing atop two snakes and accompanied by Five Garuda Birds.