FROM OUR OWN PRIVATE COLLECTION

Vajrasattva or Dorje Sempa, the 'Indestructible or Vajra Being', is an important bodhisattva whose meditation practice is employed in all schools of Tibetan Buddhism.  It is used both to purify obscurations so that the student can progress to the esoteric yoga practices of tantra and also to purify any broken  vows after initiation. As such, Vajrasattva practice is an essential element of Tibetan Buddhist practice.

Vajrasattva is peaceful, youthful, and radiantly white in complexion like an autumn moon, with a sweetly smiling face, two eyes and two arms. He sits in vajra-posture upon a white moon disc and a multicoloured lotus. He is adorned with the five divine silk garments and eight jeweled ornaments of a sambhogakaya deity, and his black hair is bound up into a topknot, with loose strands hanging freely about his shoulders. With his right hand he holds a five-pointed golden vajra in front of his heart, and with his left hand resting upon his thigh he holds an upturned silver bell.

Vajrasattva is represented here in sexual 'father and mother' union with his white consort Vajragarvi or Dorje Nyema, the 'Lady of vajra-pride', who sits upon Vajrasattva's lap with her legs wrapped around his waist as she presses every part of her body against his. She is adorned with the five silk and eight jeweled sambhogakaya ornaments of a goddess, and her long black hair flows freely down her back. With her two arms she embraces her lord, whilst holding a vajra-handled curved knife and a skull-cup of nectar behind his neck with her right and left hands.

This beautiful Thangka is painted by a very experienced Thangka Painter who has a studio in the shadow of the great Boudha Stupa in Kathmandu. It is unframed and painted onto canvas, the painted area of the picture measures 290 mm by 390 mm and is a very detailed hand painting in the traditional thangka style. The gold on the painting is gold leaf paint and the pigments used are all natural mineral or vegetable based paints.

Our Thangkas are at least 20 years old as the Thangka Painting in the last Century was far superior to current Thangkas which are made primarily for the tourist trade.