Dharmapala Thangka CentreTibetan Antiques

This Tsa Tsa shows the Bodhisattva Vajrapani [Tib: Chagna Dorje, ཕྱག་ན་རྡོ་རྗེ།].

With an age of 800 - 900 years it belongs to the earliest Tibetan Tsa Tsas. The Tsa Tsa is extraordninary precisely worked, and thus differs from the vast majority of other ancient tsa tsas. The great age has left its mark. Vajrapani itself is still relatively well preserved for the most part. Unfortunately, the lasso in his left hand is only vaguely recognisable.

Many people thought that [due to his terriffic image] Vajrapani belongs to the groups of Dharmapalas [protectors of the buddhist doctrine]. Actual Vajrapani belongs to the category of Bodhisattvas. Vajrapani is a famous celestial Bodhisattva, he represents the concentrated power of all Buddhas. He is a complex deity with various forms. He is most frequently encountered in his fierce emanation, in which he is a powerful protector and remover of obstacles.

Vajrapani is said to be the last Buddha to appear in this world, representing the combined power of all the Buddhas. He is shown in a row with Avalokiteshvara and Manjushri as the three heavenly bodhisattvas [archangel-like protectors]. They embody the power [Vajrapani], compassion [Avalokiteshvara] and wisdom [Manjushri] of all the Buddhas and represent the three times past, present and future.

He fights a spiritual battle against the forces of ignorance, craving and samsara. He is a blue Tantric figure that is surrounded mostly by a flamed halo, and wears a garland of skulls and a wreath of snakes

On this tsa tsa Vajrapani is seated on a one-layered lotus throne. Below his throne a Tibetan inscription is depicted. His main attribut of the vajra/dorje in his raised right hand is clearly visible. The left hand posture holds one end of a lasso [»pasa«] to capture snake demons. He wears a tiger skin around his hips. Above his throne he is framed by a string of pearls.