Himalayan Art Resources

Buddhist Deity: Vajrabhairava, Heruka

Vajrabhairava Iconography

Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Description (below)
- Solitary
- With Consort
- Heruka Meaning & Forms
- Masterworks
- Confusions: Yama Dharmaraja, Yamantaka
- Others...

Heruka Vajrabhairava in the New Traditions (Sarma) is defined by appearance. He has one face and two hands and is either solitary or embraced by the consort Vajra Vetali. In the Nyingma Tradition Heruka has a different meaning and generally refers to a wrathful male appearance with three faces and six hands and wings on the back.

Jeff Watt [updated 2-2019]