Represents the Wrathful Compassion of the Buddha's speech. Usually depicted in red, often with a green horse's head emerging from his crown, he is a powerful healer and protector.
Vajrapani is also the principal holder and protector of all Vajrayana tantric teachings, the "thunderbolt bearer" who safeguards the secrecy and power of the tantras. As the third of the Three Great Bodhisattvas alongside Avalokiteshvara and Manjushri, Vajrapani represents the Power aspect among the triad of Compassion (Chenrezig), Wisdom (Manjushri), and Power (Vajrapani).
The sacred syllable representing the primordial sound of the universe. It purifies the practitioner's body, speech, and mind, aligning them with the enlightened body, speech, and mind of the deities.
The universal sacred sound, signifying the beginning of the invocation.
At the core of this threefold deity is (Sanskrit: "Holder of the Vajra"), the condensation of the enlightened mind of all buddhas and the embodiment of their strength, might, and power. In the combined form, Vajrapani appears dark blue in color, with one face and two hands. His right hand is upraised, holding a five-pointed golden vajra (thunderbolt), while his left hand rests at his chest in a threatening gesture (tarjani mudra). He wears a tiger-skin garment, and his entire form is surrounded by the blazing wisdom fire of pristine awareness.
It is traditionally used to guard against harms caused by naga-serpents and other spirits, which are believed in Tibetan tradition to manifest as illnesses like cancer or epilepsy.
While anyone can chant the mantra with a sincere heart for protection, its full power is unlocked when a student receives the formal oral transmission (Lung) and empowerment (Wang) from a qualified Vajrayana Lama.