Himalayan Art Resources

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Vajrapani & Vajrasattva - Added

Vajrapani and the Tantric meditational deity Vajrasattva can easily be confused because they can have the same identical appearance. The only possible way to distinguish between the two is through inscriptions written on the base of a sculpture, or if a painted composition, then through a study of the iconographic context and related deities in a composition, along with any inscriptions. Vajrapani is by far the earlier figure in Buddhist narrative and Vajrasattva only arises from the later Tantra literature as a meditational deity. It is very likely that Vajrasattva is modeled on the form and some of the function that was originated in the character of Vajrapani.