VAJRADHARA-REFUGE TREE

REFUGE TREE VAJRADHARA:

Vajradhara is the dharmakaya buddha, the primordial Buddha. Vajradhara, who is represented in a dark blue color in the thangka, embodies the essence of Buddhahood. Vajradhara encapsulates the historical Buddha’s attainment of enlightenment. He sat cross-legged in a Vajraparyanka pose, two-armed, with his hands crossed over his heart in the vajrahkara or unification gesture, on a moon disk and lotus. His left, feminine hand is within, clutching the bell (symbolizing his inner insight and emptiness); his right, masculine hand is above the left, holding the vajra, representing technique and compassion directed outwards.

The Buddha Vajradhara is the root of Buddhist tantric writings since he is a divine incarnation of all Buddhist teachings. The dharmakaya, also known as Vajradhara Buddha, is the source of all enlightened manifestations. Because Tilopa received the Vajrayana teachings directly from Vajradhara, the dharmakaya buddha, Vajradhara is fundamental to the Kagyu lineage. As a result, the Kagyu lineage sprang from the nature of Buddha-hood itself.
Shakyamuni Buddha was himself in the form of Vajradhara while he was teaching tantric path to his gifted disciples.

Vajradhara is depicted holding a Vajra and a bell in his left hand and his arms are kept crossed in front of him expressing complete integration of Prajna and Upaya. He is usually depicted in blue colour in Vajraparyanka posture. He has a crown, an Urna and an Ushnisha as a Sambhogakaya Buddha. Vajradhara is also depicted in father-mother (Anju-Aji in Newari) aspect.  He holds his usual symbols while his arms are crossed at the back of his consort. the consort is none other than Prajnaparamita in deified form.

The Kargyudpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism begins with the Buddha Vajradhara. The individual in this tradition is allowed to visualize his root Guru as Buddha Vajradhara. Guru Tilopa is said to have received Mahamudra instruction directly from Buddha Vajradhara through visions and other extraordinary means.

In Nispannayogavali, Vajradhara is the main deity in Vajrasattva-mandala. He is three faced, six-armed and reddish white in color. His right arm holds a vajra, a sword and a kapala and his left hand holds a bell, an ankush and a noose. He stands in the Ardhaparyanka posture and dances in Tandava style.

ABOUT SMOKED ANTIQUE FINISHING
This Vajradhara has undergone a finishing process called smoke antique finishing. It is a technique commonly used on thangka paintings, where the artwork is exposed to incense smoke for an extended period of time. This process aims to give the painting an exquisite and aged appearance, resembling an antique patina. By imitating the effect of a thangka that has been exposed to incense for many years, this technique adds a sense of history and reverence to the artwork.