Vajrakilaya

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The wrathful heruka Vajrakilaya is a yidam deity (or godform, refer thoughtform) who embodies the energetic activity of all the buddhas, manifesting in an intensly wrathful yet compassionate form in order to subjugate the delusion and negativity that can arise as obstacles to the practice of Dharma.

Vajrakilaya is also used as a name for a ritual tool used in Buddhism, Bon traditions. The tool is known as a kila or kilaya in Hinduism. Vajra Kilaya is also the godform of a deity also known as Dorje Phurba.

1 Vajrakilaya as tool
2 Vajrakilaya as deity
3 Vajrakilaya iconography
4 Vajrakilaya and terma
5 Vajrakilaya Puja within the Sakyapa
6 References

[edit] Vajrakilaya as tool

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche on the practice of Vajrakilaya states that:

"Vajrakilaya, or kila, means something sharp, and something that pierces--a dagger, basically. A dagger that is so sharp it can pierce anything, while at the same time nothing can pierce it. That is the quality. This sharp and piercing energy is what is used to practice and out of the many infinite, endless Vajrayana methods this happens to be one of most important methods."

[edit] Vajrakilaya as deity

Vajrakilaya is a significant Vajrayana deity to transmute and transcend obstacles and obscurations. Padmasambhava achieved realisation through practicing Yangdag Heruka but he first practiced Vajrakilaya to clean and clear obstacles and obscurations.

Vajrakilaya is also understood as the embodiment of activities of the Buddha mind. Sometimes Vajrakilaya is perceived as the wrathful form of Vajrasattva. Many great masters both in India and Tibet, but especially in Tibet, have practiced Vajrakilaya (especially in the Nyingma lineage, and among the Kagyu and also within the Sakyapas). The Sakyapa's main deity, besides Hevajra is Vajrakumara or Vajrakilaya.

Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Dudjom Rinpoche and a significant number of lamas within the Kagyu and Nyingma have Vajrakilaya sadhana.

[edit] Vajrakilaya iconography

Vajrakilaya also known as Vajrakumar is the deity of the magic phurba dagger, a symbol of the sharp point of wisdom of dharmakaya by the power of one pointed concentration. Vajrakilaya is a favoured tantric archetypal deity embraced by the Nyigmapa. The awesome and wrathful manifestation of this empty yet apparant deity assists practitioners in clearing the obstructions to realisation.

A common manifestation of Vajrakilla has three heads, six arms, and four legs. Vajrakilaya’s three right hands except for the right front one held vajras with five and nine prongs. The right front one makes a mudra as granting boons with open palm. Vajrakilaya’s three left hands hold a flaming triple wishfulfilling jewel or triratna, a trident and the phurba. Vajrakilaya’s back is covered by the freshly flayed skin of the elephant representing ignorance, with the legs tied in front. A human skin is tied diagonally across his chest with the and is lying flat on Vajrakilaya’s stomach. A rope ripples over his body with severed heads hanging by their hair. A knee length loin cloth winds around his belly belted with a tiger skin complete with tail, claws and head. This deity wears naga as earrings, bracelets anklets and a cord over his chest and a hair ornament. Vajrakilaya’s faces are round and small compared to the tall body. Despite the large fangs and bulging eyes and his wrathful appearance, Vajrakilaya is perceived as having a benevolent demeanor.

[edit] Vajrakilaya and terma

There are a number of terma teachings founded on Vajrakilaya. For instance, there are treasure teachings from Jigme Lingpa, Ratna Lingpa and Nyang-rel Nyima Ozer.

[edit] Vajrakilaya Puja within the Sakyapa

Vajrakilaya Puja has long unbroken lineage within the Sakyapa. Vajrakilaya Puja was received by Khön Nagendra Rakshita and his younger sibling Vajra Ratna from Padmasambhava. Since then it has been transmitted in the Khön lineage and has been enacted every year until the present. Even in the challenging times of 1959 His Holiness the Sakya Trizin maintained the tradition. Source: http://www.paldensakya.org.in/newsdisplay.asp?newsid=4 (accessed: Tuesday, 30 January 2007)

[edit] References

Source: http://www.siddharthasintent.org/Programs/1204-vajrakilaya-taiwan2.html (accessed: Tuesday, 30 January 2007)
Khenpo Namdrol Rinpoche (1999). The Practice Of Vajrakilaya (paperback). Snow Lion Publications. ISBN-10: 1559391030 & ISBN-13: 978-1559391030
http://www.paldensakya.org.in/newsdisplay.asp?newsid=4 (accessed: Tuesday, 30 January 2007)
http://www.vajrakilaya.org/ (accessed: Tuesday, 30 January 2007)
Beer, Robert (1999). The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs (Hardcover). Shambhala. ISBN-10: 157062416X, ISBN-13: 978-1570624162