VAJRAPANI

Tibetan Phyag-na-rdo-rje, Chinese Kin-kang, Japanese Kongo in Mahayana Buddhist mythology, one of the celestial bodhisattvas (Buddhas-to-be), the manifestation of the self-born Buddha Aksobhya. Vajrapani (Sanskrit: Thunderbolt-Bearer) is believed to be the protector of the nagas (half-man, half-serpent deities) and sometimes assumes the shape of a bird in order to deceive their traditional enemy, the hawklike Garuda. Because of his association with the rain-controlling nagas and with the Hindu god of rain, Indra, he is invoked in times of drought. Like Indra he holds the thunderbolt and is coloured dark blue or white. His statues are often found in a triad with the Buddha Amitayus (or the bodhisattva of wisdom, Majusri) and the lotus-bearing bodhisattva of compassion, Padmapani. In Tibet he assumes ferocious forms to combat demons and to guard the mystical teaching of Buddhism, and in Japan he guards the temple doorways (see Ni-o).