Vajrapani is a male deity believed to be one of three of the earliest protective bodhisattvas or deities that surround Lord Buddha. In Sanskrit, Vajrapani is a compound word in which Vajra means diamond or thunderbolt while Pani means ‘in the hand’.
In Mahayana Buddhism, the deity is one of the earliest Dharmapalas. According to Mahayana Buddhism, Vajrapani is earliest bodhisattvas who appeared. He is the guide and protector of Gautam Buddha. He grew to symbolize the power of Buddha. Earliest Buddhist legends indicate that the minor deity Vajrapani went everywhere along with Gautama Buddha when he wandered around as a mendicant. At the time of Gautama’s renunciation, Gautama was assisted by Vajrapani to run away from the palace.
In Buddhist iconography he represented as three protective bodhisattvas including Avalokitesvara who manifests the immense love and compassion of Buddha, then Manjushri who manifests all the wisdom of Buddha and lastly Vajrapani who protects Gautam Buddha and manifests all power of the Buddha besides the power of all the five tathagatas (tathagatas – is the Buddhahood in Buddha’s rank).
Vajrapani is presented holding the vajra in his right hand, with a wrathful expression and symbolizes the Yaksha to create fear in people to loosen up assertiveness. He is depicted in different forms with four legs, four arms, carries a sword, vajra and lasso, wearing a skull crown, walking over snakes or demons, claws of Garuda or with wings. The Vajra which he brandishes in his right hand symbolizes – (Jnanavajra) analytical knowledge. Most often he depicts power of Buddha’s awakened state (the five Dyani Buddhas) by adorning the five-pointed bodhisattva crown.
