Vajrasattva Mandala

CHINA, Tibet

The white Vajrasattva sits within a square in the center of the mandala, wearing a crown and ornaments. Vajrasattva holds a vajra symbolizing compassion in the right hand, and a bell that represents wisdom in the left. The Four Heavenly Kings, the guardians of the four cardinal directions, surround the four sides of the inner square. The green Dhrtarastra, Heavenly King of the East is at the bottom, the blue Virudhaka, Heavenly King of the South is on the left, the red Virupaksa, Heavenly King of the West is at the top, and the yellow Vaisravana, Heavenly King of the North is painted on the right. These figures are contained within a thin red ring. Intricate patterns on colorful backgrounds decorate the space between this inner ring and the outer square. Around the red inner border of the outer square, there are images of slender female figures representing incarnations of Prajnaparamita, the essence of transcendental wisdom. More patterns adorn the rings of the outer circle. In the four corners of the mandala, there are vases, flowers, and scrolling stems.