Himalayan Art Resources

Buddhist Deity: Vajrapani, Peaceful (Standing Sculpture)

Vajrapani (Non-iconic Figures)

Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Description (below)
- Masterworks
- Bonhams Essay
- Context in Iconography:
--- Sutrayana: Eight Great Bodhisattva
--- Sutrayana: Amitabha Set of Three
--- Kriya Tantra: Three Lords of the World
--- Kriya Tantra: Ushnishavijaya Nine Deity
--- Anuttarayoga Tantra: Vajradhara Set of Three
- Confusions: Vajrasattva, Indra, Vajravidarana
- Others...

Video: Standing Vajrapani Figures

Study Topics:
- Iconographic Description
- Four Contexts & Sources
- Chronology
- Confusions

Related Standing Figures: Manjushri | Lokeshvara | Maitreya | Unidentified Forms

Vajrapani has two main categories of form, narrative and iconic. Vajrapani has a role in Mahayana Buddhism and the narrative sutras. In that role Vajrapani can be depicted in art as representing a bodhisattva figure. In Tantra Vajrapani then takes on the added role of being a meditational deity. Many of the Vajrapani sculpture that are in a standing posture belong to sets of the Three Lords of the World which is a Kriya Tantra mandala meditational practice of Manjushri, Lokeshvara and Vajrapani. Other sculpture belong to sets depicting the Eight Great Bodhisattva.

Vajrapani is often confused for Vajrasattva. Vajrasattva is a meditational deity and is depicted in very static iconographic poses. He is not a figure from the Mahayana sutras and narrative literature. Typically, almost always, until proven otherwise, Vajrasattva is NOT depicted in a standing posture.

Depictions of Vajrapani and Vajrasattva in sculpture and painting are commonly confused with the similar deities Vairochana Buddha, Vajradhara, Vajravidarana, the Five Symbolic Buddhas in Sambhogakaya form, White Chakrasamvara and others. All of these deities, OTHER THAN SUTRA VAJRAPANI, are meditational deities that belong to the Tantric system.

In a number of Yoga Tantra examples the form of Vajrapani, in the Sarvadurgati Parishodhana Tantra system, appears exactly the same in appearance as the typical 'Solitary Hero' Vajrasattva. A sculpture of the primordial Buddha Vajradhara has the exact same physical iconographic appearance as Heruka Vajrasattva - also depicted with the two hands holding a vajra and bell crossed in embrace holding the consort.

In paintings the Heruka Vajrasattva would be painted white while the Vajradhara form always appears blue in colour. In physical appearance Vajrasattva and Vajravidarana are only different because Vajrasattva holds a single vajra scepter while Vajravidarana holds a double vajra scepter. Vajravidarana can also appear in either a white, green or blue form.

The standing Vajrapani included in the Nine Deity Ushnishavijaya iconography holds a fly-whisk in the right hand and a vajra in the left. Alternately the left hand can hold the stem of an utpala flower supporting a vajra scepter. It is however very rare to have sculptural depictions of the Nine Deity Ushnishavijaya.

Jeff Watt [updated 9-2017, 1-2024]