Mahachakra Vajrapani [Tibetan: Chagna Dorje Korlo Chempo, ལྕགས་ན་རྡོ་རྗེ་འཁོར་ལོ་ཆ is a supreme tantric form of this bodhisattva. The four parts of his name mean:
| Chagna | = | Iron, made of iron | Dorje | = | Vajra, lightning, diamond |
| Korlo | = | Wheel, circle | Chenpo | = | Big, powerful |
This unusually large tsa-tsa, measuring 16 cm or 6.4", depicts him in the Yab-Yum position with his female companion, [»Prajna«] Māmaki. In Tantric Buddhism, »vajra« [Tib.: »rDo rje«, »thunderbolt« རྡོ་རྗེ་,] symbolizes indestructibility and the transformative power of spiritual awakening.
The Bodhisattva Vajrapani, with three heads and six arms, is primarily associated with the defeat of the »Nāgas« [snake-like dragon creatures]. A dragon can be seen above his head. In Tang Dynasty Buddhism [8th century], Vajrapāṇi is depicted as an ally of the dragon kings because he controls the »Nāgas« and conjures rain.
He stands on a single-tier lotus throne. This representation differs from Vajrapani's most common form with one head and two arms. The three heads symbolize control over the three worlds [heaven, earth, underworld].
He is holding a large snake between his teeth. In Indian and Tibetan thought, »Nāgas«] are beings of the underworld and water, guardians of treasures and knowledge. Vajrapāṇi is often depicted as the conqueror of the Nāgas – he forces them to put their power at the service of awakening. In some tantric traditions [e.g., Vajrapāṇi-Nāga-Tantra], he tames the snake spirits that can cause disease or natural disasters and transforms their energy into spiritual power.
To the right of his head is a stupa. Furthermore two filled skull cups can be seen at the bottom right and left.
The filled skull cup is not a symbol of death The skull cup [Kapala] is not a symbol of death, but rather represents:
His female companion, Māmaki, who has one head and two arms, closely resembles him. The two are connected in a powerful »father-mother« [Tib. »yab-yum«] sexual union. Together, they stand on the bodies of figures lying flat on the ground, which symbolize negative forces, inner obstacles or destructive emotions.
Condition: The tsa tsa is in excellent condition. There is only a small chip on the back of the mamaki's head and a small flaw on the left outer edge in the middle. The condition of the tsa tsa can best be seen in the high-resolution image, which can be accessed via the link in the last line below.
| Himalayan Art Ressources Video by Jeff Watt |
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Measurements: | 16.0 x 11.8 x 2.6 cm |
| Price: | on request |
| Shipment: | Parcel Service from Germany |
| Material: | Fired clay |
| Age: | late 19th - early 20 th cent. |
| High resolution: | Display [1.4 MB, 2280 x 3188 px.] |
