Bronze vajrakilaya statuette - Yab yum statuette

Yab Yum Statue, Bronze Vajrakilaya Statuette - Collectible Buddhist Statuette

Large bronze Buddhist statue. vajrakilaya, Phurba (tib.) wrathful form of the Buddha Vajrasattva

Genuine Tibetan temple statue.
Rare and exceptional collector's item

Dimensions of this bronze Vajrakilaya statue: 45cm high by 33cm wide and 15cm deep
Weight 12kg

Traditionally, a lid is placed behind the piece at the back, in order to place offerings, prayers, mantra, during the ceremony called "opening of the eyes" making the statuette invested with the power of the deity represented.

Where does this bronze Vajrakilaya Statue come from?
This statue was made by Tibetan bronze workers, specialized in the making of statues and ritual objects intended for Vajrayana Buddhist temples. In northern Yunnan in the Gyalthang region, a Tibetan region nestled at an altitude of 4000 meters.
This bronze Vajrakilaya Statue is an exceptional treasure of Buddhist art.

Deqen or Gyalthang is a region located in northwestern Yunnan, China. It is also known as Gyaltran in Tibetan. This region is renowned for its spectacular mountain scenery, Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, and rich and diverse Tibetan culture. Deqen attracts many Buddhist pilgrims because of its unspoiled natural beauty and spiritual ambiance.

Songzanlin Lamasery is a famous Tibetan monastery located in Shangri-La, Deqen Region, Yunnan Province, China. Also known as Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, this lamasery is one of the most important Tibetan religious centers outside Tibet. It is known for its traditional Tibetan architecture, colorful murals, Buddhist statues, and rich cultural history. Many visitors come every year to experience the beauty and spirituality of this sacred place.

What exact materials was this bronze Vajrakilaya Statue made from?

The bronze used is called purple bronze. It is a high quality bronze, getting its characteristic color from a high aluminum and copper content.
This composition gives it a distinct purple or violet hue. This type of bronze is often used in the manufacture of decorative objects, sculptures and art pieces due to its unique color and aesthetic properties. Its use dates back to antiquity, but it is still appreciated today for its beauty and durability.

Who is Vajrakilaya?

Vajrakilaya or Phurba in Tibetan is an important deity in Tibetan Buddhism, particularly in the Vajrayana tradition. He is often depicted as a wrathful deity, symbolizing the ability to overcome inner and outer obstacles. Vajrakilaya is associated with the purification and destruction of negative forces and obstacles to promote spiritual growth.
To learn more about this yidam, please click on this text which will take you to our detailed article on our dedicated blog

What exactly does this bronze Vajrakilaya Statue represent?
This statuette represents Vajrakilaya in yab yum posture with his consort Vajravetali, symbolizing compassion, vital energy and wisdom.

Buddhist statuettes in the Yab-Yum posture depict a male and female deity united in a sexual act, symbolizing the union of wisdom (masculine) and compassion (feminine), as well as the attainment of enlightenment. These statuettes are often used in tantric meditation to promote understanding of unity and harmony in duality.

In the depiction of Yab-Yum between Vajrakilaya and Vajravetali, Vajrakilaya, the male, is shown in a dynamic and powerful posture, holding the vajra (scepter) in one hand and the phurba (ritual dagger) in the hands clasping his consort. Vajravetali, the female, is shown offering herself to Vajrakilaya, in a peaceful pose and embracing her partner. This union symbolizes the harmony of masculine and feminine energies in spiritual realization.

The form of this statue, the most common, is taken from the "root tantra of adamantine wrath" (rTsa- rgyud- rdo- rje khros- pas).

Heruka with three heads, six arms and four legs, brandishing vajra (tib. dorje), thunderbolts pulverizing ignorance with his right hands.

A mass of flame and more occasionally a trident in his left hands.
With his 4 legs, he tramples the male and female mahadeva (aversion and
desire).

It deploys two immense adamantine wings with sharp edges, and carries the
macabre ornaments of mass graves.

Its crown with 5 skulls represents the 5 addictions (or Kesla) transformed into 5 wisdoms.

Vajrakilaya is shown in formidable union, or Yab Yum with his consort Diptachakra also named Vajravetali
Diptachakra (tib; Khorlo Gyédepma) offers him with his right hand a kapala (skull cup) filled with blood and with his left a kartika, or kartrika, a small crescent-shaped ritual skinning knife used in the tantric ceremonies of Vajrayana Buddhism.

Enthroned on a lotus and a sun cushion, Vajrakilaya and Vajravétali sit in the middle of a devouring blaze.