Dharmapala Thangka CentreTibetan Antiques

Vajrasattva [Sanskrit: »diamond being«, Tibetan: »Dorje Sempa« རྡོ་རྗེ་སེམས་དཔའ།] represents the highest, diamond, uncreated nature. His name means »whose nature is the vajra [tib. »Dorje«]«.V ajrasattva embodies the ability to remove mental defilements of all kinds, especially neglected duties to the teacher and one's own spiritual development.

His left [= female] hand rests on his thigh and holds the bell [Sanskrit: »ghanta«, Tib.: »dril bu«]. The bell drives away all vices, protects and blesses us and is a sign of wisdom. It is used as a ritual object. The bell symbolises impermanence, for the world of appearances is impermanent like the sound of a bell. With his right [= male] hand he held a thunderbolt sceptre [»vajra«] in front of his chest. His attribute of the vajra symbolises the indestructible and eternal Absolute.

Vajrasattvas body aureole is missing, but the head aureole is surrounded by a nimbus of pearls. His leg robes are patterned and tight-fitting. Vajrasattva is seated on a single layered lotus throne. It is surrounded by four small gomang stupas. The two largest are connected to the throne by a lotus stem.

His head wears three pointed crown. This is clear evidence of the great age of the Tsa Tsa. After the 12^th century, after the 12^th century the crown of Vajrasattva was only shown as five-pointed.

The arched inscription on the upper half suggests a script similar to the Indian »Kutila« script, which was used from the 8^th to the 12^th century.

Considering its age of around 1000 years, the Tsa Tsa is relatively well preserved. The slightly protruding outer edge has protected the surface relatively well. Only the most raised face of Vajrasattva is not fully preserved. The four stupas, vajra and bell are largely undamaged and still clearly recognisable.

Origin:
Tsaparang Region, Guge, Tholing / West Tibet [ca. 1000 km West of Lhasa].