Deities in Tibetan Buddhism(13): Vajrakilaya, Tsongkhapa, and Atisha

Vajrakilaya

Vajrakilaya, also known as Dorje Phurba, is a wrathful deity with three faces, six arms, and four legs. Each face has three eyes, and he wears a crown of five skulls. His hair, adorned with a Garuda as a top ornament and small snakes, rises fiercely, symbolizing his subjugation of the Naga (serpent) clan. Vajrakilaya’s main body is blue, and he has a pair of wings on his back. His primary hands hold a vajra kila (ritual dagger), signifying the purification of all afflictions and demonic obstacles. The other arms hold various ritual implements. He embraces his consort (Yum), standing in a prancing posture on a platform, surrounded by the flames of prajna (wisdom). Both Vajrakilaya and his consort display a tense posture, lacking any sense of typical union pleasure, thereby expressing the concept of “subjugation.” Vajrakilaya is a powerful deity used in tantric practices for removing obstacles and overcoming negative forces.

Tsongkhapa

Tsongkhapa, meaning “the person from Tsongkha,” was the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism and a renowned religious reformer in Tibetan history. The Gelug school he established became the most important school in Tibet.

The five emanations of Tsongkhapa arose from the story of the master manifesting five forms to guide his disciple, Khedrup Je, after his passing. These five forms are recorded in various biographies of the master. The five emanations are the following: riding an elephant, riding a lion, holding the Dharma teaching gesture (mudra), riding a tiger, and seated on a vajra throne.

In the emanation of riding an elephant, Tsongkhapa wears a yellow pandita hat. His face is full and serene, and his hands are in the Dharma teaching mudra at his chest. He is seated in a half-lotus position on a white elephant.

In the emanation of riding a lion, Tsongkhapa wears a five-leaf crown. His face is calm, and his hands are in the Dharma teaching mudra at his chest. On each side of him, lotus flowers hold a wisdom sword and a scripture. The master is riding sideways on a white lion.

In the emanation of holding the Dharma teaching mudra, Tsongkhapa wears a yellow pandita hat and a three-piece Dharma robe. His hands are in the Dharma teaching mudra at his chest, and he holds two lotus stems. The lotus stems support a sword and a scripture on the left and right, respectively. Tsongkhapa is seated in a vajra posture on a lotus moon disc.

In the emanation of riding a tiger, Tsongkhapa wears a skull crown and large earrings and a necklace. He has a terrifying, wrathful expression. His upper body is bare, with a sacred shawl draped over his shoulder, and he wears a short skirt. This is the attire of a yogi. His right hand is raised holding a sword, and his left hand holds a skull cup (kapala) at his chest. He rides on the back of a fierce tiger.

In the emanation of being seated on a vajra throne, Tsongkhapa wears a yellow pandita hat and a three-piece Dharma robe. He is depicted with a serene countenance, seated in a half-lotus posture on a pure gold throne.

Atisha

Atisha was the founder of the Kadampa school of Tibetan Buddhism and is also revered by the Gelug school. Originally a renowned Indian monk, he was invited to Tibet during the later propagation period by the Guge Kingdom. He played a pivotal role in the revival of Tibetan Buddhism after the 10th century. Atisha is a prominent figure in Tibetan Buddhist history and is revered as a “Buddha.” His teachings and influence had a lasting impact on the development of Tibetan Buddhism.