Wrathful Wisdom: Vajrabhairava

Vajrabhairava is considered the wrathful emanation of Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom. He assumed this form to mirror back the terrifying appearance of the Lord of Death, Yama. Overpowered and subdued, Yama became a protector of the Buddhist faith. Vajrabhairava is also known as Yamantaka, the Destroyer or Slayer of Yama, in reference to his power to transform even the Lord of Death.

Vajrabhairava is a prominent deity in the Sakya Tibetan Buddhist tradition and one of the most important meditation deities in the Geluk tradition, which is prevalent in Mongolia. This form is based on a vision of the tradition’s founder, Tsongkhapa (1357–1419). In Mongolia Vajrabhairava’s practices helped supplant indigenous shamanistic exorcism rituals.

Vajrabhairava’s union with consort Vajravetali symbolizes the confluence of the compassionate method and the wisdom of perceiving ultimate reality, two aspects necessary for enlightenment, as explained in Tantric Buddhist texts and practices. Vajravetali is equally wrathful in appearance with three bulging eyes, head adorned with skulls, and the curved knife and skull cup in her hands. Her left leg hooks around and grips the male deity.

Vajrabhairava has nine heads, thirty-four arms, and sixteen legs. His buffalo head is topped by the head of Manjushri, signifying the deity’s true nature. His other wrathful heads have three eyes and are adorned with crowns of skulls. A garland of severed heads drapes from his shoulders almost down to the ground. These features mirror the terrifying appearance of the Lord of Death, Yama, but are transmuted by wisdom and symbolize overcoming obstacles on the path to liberation from fear, attachment, and anger toward full awakening.

Vajrabhairava’s thirty-four hands wield various implements. The two hands that embrace the consort hold a skull cup (kapala), a reminder of impermanence symbolizing wisdom, and a curved knife, symbolizing cutting ignorance at Vajrabhairava is considered the wrathful emanation of Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom. He assumed this form to mirror back the terrifying appearance of the Lord of Death, Yama. Overpowered and subdued, Yama became a protector of the Buddhist faith. Vajrabhairava is also known as Yamantaka, the Destroyer or Slayer of Yama, in reference to his power to transform even the Lord of Death. Vajrabhairava is a prominent deity in the Sakya Tibetan Buddhist tradition and one of the most important meditation deities in the Geluk tradition, which is prevalent in Mongolia. This form is based on a vision of the tradition’s founder, Tsongkhapa (1357–1419). In Mongolia Vajrabhairava’s practices helped supplant indigenous shamanistic exorcism rituals.