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Vajrasattva is very popular among followers of the Buddhist Vajrayana branch as for instance practiced in Tibet. Vajrayana is also called tantric Buddhism. Vajrasattva is the deity of purification.
Vajrasattva has the look of a spoiled young dandy prince. He wears a rich dress and jewelry is hanging around his neck and is attached to his ears. His long hair is careffully bound on top to an intricate something. Even his wrists and upper arms are decorated with precious jewelry. At first sight Vajrasattva looks like an image of the Shakyamuni Buddha, the historical Buddha, before he had left his father's palace.
Vajrasattva - the Thunderbolt Being
Vajrasattva means in sanskrit literally the 'thunderbolt' (vajra) being. And this is one of the trademarks how you can recognize Yajrasattva. In his right hand he carries the 'vajra'. And his left hand is always holding a bell. The bell stands for wisdom and the vajra for compassion. Vajrasattva wears a rich crown on his head.
On colored art objects like thangkas he is shown in white. He is always sitting cross-legged on a lotus seat. Vajrasattva may be shown alone or in sexual intercourse with a female partner. This sexual position is called yab-yum.
Dorje Sempa - in Tibetan
The Tibetan name for Vajrasattva is Dorje Sempa.
Dieter Wanczura, August 2010.
