Himalayan Art Resources

Buddhist Deity: Dorje Legpa Main Page

Dorje Legpa Masterworks

Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Description (below)
- Outline Page
- History, Narrative & Myth
- Painting Set
- Riding a Lion
- Riding a Goat
- Related Deity: Damchen Garwa Nagpo
- Nyingma Protectors
- Confusions: Dorje Ta'og and Dorje Shugden
- Others...

Dorje Legpa (Sanskrit: Vajra Sadhu). Oath bound worldly protector of the Nyingma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, guardian of the Revealed Treasure Tradition (Terma).

Indigenous to Tibet, it is said that the worldly spirit Dorje Legpa was subjugated in the 8th century by Guru Padmasambhava and oath bound as a protector of Buddhism. His primary function is to safeguard the Revealed Treasure texts (Terma) of the Nyingma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Dorje Legpa belongs to the category of Tibetan Buddhist Worldly Protectors.

Tibetan: Dor je leg pa Sanskrit: Vajra Sadhu

"...above a lotus and sun and a gelded goat, or a white radiant lion, ... is the excellent Dorje Legpa, maroon, one face, two hands, three eyes. The face is radiant with bared fangs, exhaling a poisonous breath, with red hair and moustache flowing upward. The right hand holds a vajra striking the heads of enemies and the left a human heart. Wearing a cloak of red silk, dwelling in a fierce and wrathful manner." (Terdag Lingpa Gyurme Dorje 1646-1714 and Minling Lochen Dharmashri 1654-1718. Tibetan source text 'dod 'jo bum bzang, Part II, page 242. TBRC W18. Tibetan Source Text).

Special Features:
- Wrathful in appearance, one face, two hands
- Wearing a monk's style riding hat (but not a monk)
- holding a vajra in the right hand
- holding a heart in the left hand
- Wearing multi-coloured lay garments
- Riding a lion or goat

"At the blazing iron fortress of Uyug Shang,
Powerful son from the union with a Mu daemon, great in magical emanations,
Performing attentively the commands of Bhagavan Vajrapani:
Homage to the herald of liberation, Dorje Legpa." (Nyingma liturgical verse).

Database Search: All Images | Painting | Sculpture

Jeff Watt 10-98 [updated 4-2017]