Gold-Gilded Seated Bodhisattva Vajrapani
Material: Bronze
Origin: Nepal
Height: 44 cm
Code: VS-009
Vajrapani represents the power of all the Buddhas to subdue demons in a skillful manner. Varapani can be represented in both a peaceful or wrathful form.
The peaceful form of varapani is usually found as one of the two attendants of Buddha Amitabha (the other attendant being Avalokiteshvara).
This seated vajrapani in a peaceful form is very rarely seen. His right hand is raised with a gesture, supposedly holding a thunderbolt (vajra or dorje) that is commonly seen in his wrathful form, while his left hand holds a rope (lasso) in a threatening gesture similar to the wrathful form. He wears a five-leaf crown decorated with a floral wheel. His other ornaments are similar to bodhisattvas in peaceful forms, such as necklaces, wrist bands, armlets, anklets, and seated on a full lotus pedestal
In Tantrayana, Manjushri, Chenrezig and Vajrapani represent wisdom, compassion and power (action) respectively. They are commonly known as a trinity or rigsum gonpo in tibetan.