Wrathful Vajrapani

Vajrapani is a Bodhisattva who appears in a primitive form in the Pāli Canon as a yakkha (sansk. yaksha) a kind of daemonic or chthonic spirit. His name means «Thunderbolt in Hand». In the Vajrayana he becomes a central figure, where he frequently also goes by the name Guhyapati (Lord of Secrets).

The form depicted here is a wrathful form — his body swollen with the energy of liberation is surrounded by a wreath of flames. He shouts his bija mantra; and draws his hand back to hurl the vajra at you in order to break through your obscuration.

Vajrapani belongs to the Vajra Family which is headed by Akshobhya.

If a person has constant fear, if he/she quickly loses energy or has provocation from negative beings, he/she must follow the practice of Vajrapani, reciting the mantra 108 times each day.

At the top of this thangka also shown Avalokiteshvara and Bodhisattva Manjushri. And at the bottom — White and Green Taras, and yellow Dzambala.