Black Jambhala with Vajrasattva Thangka

Description

Black Jambhala with Vajrasattva Thangka is handpainted on cotton canvas by Thangka artist from Nepal. The size of this thangka is 52 x 39cm and its weight is 0.1kg.

Black Jambhala is presented at the center of the thangka. Vajrasattva is presented at the top of the Black Jambhala in the thangka.

Iconography of the Black Jambhala

Black Jambhala is naked, sexually aroused, pot-bellied, with pierced ears, three bulging bloodshot eyes, brown hair streaming upwards, and bared fangs, standing with the right leg bent and the left straight. He has two arms and one head. His right hand holds a blood jar on top of a skull in front of his chest, and the left hand carry a mongoose that expels wish-fulfilling diamonds.

A crown of five skulls in the shape of a five-Buddha crown is worn on his head, and a string of 50 pray beads made of human skulls is worn around his neck, with five-color snake bracelets on his hands, feet, and neck. He stands with a look of rage on his face.

Mantra of Black Jambhala

The mantra of Blck Jambhala is Om Zambhala Dzamlim Dzaye Svaha Om Indzali Mu Kan Dzamali Svaha.

Iconography of Vajrasattva

Vajrasattva is presented at the top of the Black Jambhala in the thangka. Vajrasattva is pure white in color and is sometimes known as the Prince of Purity. His name means “Adamantine Being”, or more poetically “Embodying Reality”.

He is a member of the Vajra family of Aksobhya which also includes Vajrapani. He is depicted as a young man in the prime of life, with all the silks and jewels of a wealthy prince.

In his right hand, he delicately balances a vajra at his heart. In his left hand, he holds a bell at his waist. The vajra represents Reality, and Compassion; while the bell represents Wisdom.

Vajrasattva is said to have been originated from the seed syllable Hum and is generally invoked for removal of obscuration of Kleshavarana and Jneya Avarana.

His hundred syllable mantra is very efficacious in purifying our defilements through confession practice. It is said if confession is done with the four opponent powers, then non-virtuous actions or obscurations will be purified.

The first opponent power is the force of reliance. This means looking upon the visualized image of Vajrasattva as the embodiment of one refuge. The second opponent power is the sincere regret for the non-virtuous action done by oneself.

The third opponent’s power is desisting from evil deeds. The fourth opponent power is to apply the power of good deeds; and especially regarding this case, practicing the meditation and recitation of Vajrasattva without parting from Bodhicitta while remaining in the state of emptiness.

Vajrasattva is a very popular tutelary deity for Nepalese Vajracharya. He is worshipped very often by Nepalese Buddhists through the Guru Mandala ritual.

In some mandalas Vajrasattva represents the Adi Buddha or the Primordial Principle of Buddhahood in others, he changes places with Aksobhya in the East.

In Shingon Buddhism it is Vajrasattva that passes on the initiation of the Dharmakāya Buddha Mahāvairocana to Nagarjuna, thereby creating the Vajrayana lineage.

Mantra of Varasattva

The mantra of Vajrasattva is om Vajrasattva Hum.