Vajrakilaya

Vajrakilaya (Tib: Dorje Phurba) is a wrathful emanation of Vajrasattva known as the ‘fiercely compassionate one.’

 He is one of the Eight Great Herukas of the Highest Yoga Tantra whose practices were passed to the Eight Great Vidyadharas, or lineage holders. The Vajrakilaya tantras were given to Guru Padmasambhava to hold. They were hidden as earth treasures to be revealed later by treasure revealers, including the widely-practiced lineage of Ratna Lingpa.

 The practice of Vajrakilaya is known for being a powerful means to removing inner and outer obstacles to peace, happiness and enlightenment, as well as destroying forces hostile to compassion. In Vajrakilaya, the compassion of the Buddhas is expressed wrathfully. He wields a pointed dagger, or phurba, to eradicate ignorance and dualistic thinking that prevents the dawning of realization. 

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