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Vajrayogini

Transforming Passion into Compassion

This strong female tantric dakini is called Vajrayogini and she personifies the female wisdom energy of emptiness. Her naked body is brilliant-red in color, representing her ability to transform lust, sexual energy and egotistic passion into compassion for all sentient beings, without attachment.

She is the other half of Chakrasamvara, who is here depicted by the khatvanga pole that balances on her left shoulder. Hereby Vajrayogini shows that they are always together, never separated.
In her left hand she holds the kapala, a half skull filled with blood, where she drinks from.

With her feet she tramples upon Kalarati (the red figure) and Bhairava (the blue figure). They represent the delusions of attachment, hatred and ignorance that Vajrayogini’s wisdom has overcome.

Vajrayogini looks upwards to the Pure Dakini Land to demonstrate that she’s got the power to guide serious practitioners directly to this celestial world where all beings are free from suffering.

The making of

This picture shows the long process of making this thangka, which is done with the finest brushes:

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