Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Vajrapani (Bodhisattva & Buddhist Deity) - Krodha (Wrathful)

ཕྱག་ན་རྡོ་རྗེ། 金刚手菩萨
(item no. 65111)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1700 - 1799
Lineages Buddhist
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Rubin Museum of Art
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Appearance: Wrathful

Gender: Male

Interpretation / Description

Vajrapani, Krodha (Tibetan: chag na dor je. English: the Vajra Holder, Wrathful): wrathful Tutelary Deity, representing the power of all Buddhas.

Sanskrit: Vajrapani Tibetan: chag na dor je

The Vajra Holder was the original wrathful deity of Buddhism patterned on the classical Indian model of a demon figure known as a raksha. As an idea the Vajra Holder is related to Hercules of Greek mythology who also wields a powerful club. A fierce expression with bulging eyes, thick limbs, an aggressive posture and a circle of flames radiating from the body define the characteristics for this class of figure in Himalayan art. This work was created as a single painting by a donor to commemorate the death of a family member. The deceased male is pictured in blue clothing in the bottom right corner of the painting.

Jeff Watt 3-2001. Updated 2004

Secondary Images
Related Items
Thematic Sets
Buddhist Deity: Vajrapani Main Page
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art (RMA): Main Page
Buddhist Deity: Vajrapani Videos
Subject: Confused Visual Subjects (List)
Subject: War, Conflict & Strife
Subject: Memorial Paintings
Buddhist Deity: Vajrapani (Masterworks)