Chanda Vajrapani or Nila Vajravidarana
  See it in the Museum
India and Nepal
Orientation 3
Display 5

ABS 152

 Code: ABS 152

  Country: Nepal (west)

  Style: Khasha Malla

  Date: 1250 - 1350

  Dimensions in cm WxHxD: 9.2 x 12.2 x 5.1

  Materials: Gilt copper

Wrathful Vajrapani or Nila Vajravidarana

This wrathful deity is stepping out to the right in the warrior stance, trampling on a corpse laid upon a double lotus pedestal. The corpse represents an inner demon that he has overcome. He brandishes a five-pronged vajra sceptre in the right uplifted hand and holds a bell in the left. He is adorned with the macabre ornaments of the charnel grounds: dried skull tiara, flayed skin loincloth, poisonous snake jewellery, and severed human heads on a string.

This gilded copper image was presumably cast by a Newari artist for Kasha Malla patrons of Western Nepal. Many of the statues attributed to this kingdom have distinct lotus pedestals.

Based on its iconography, this statue could either represent a wrathful aspect of Vajrapani, “The Vajra Bearer,” bodhisattva of enlightened energy, or of Nila Vajravidarana, “The Blue Vajra Subjugator,” a purification deity connected to Vajrapani. A painting of this deity is visible in the Emporium (ABP 040). The collection possesses other examples of wrathful Vajrapani (ABS 070, ABS 197), as well as peaceful manifestations (ABS 267, ABS 001).