Varasattva Jazz Trombone Etude II

This white background Mandala shows Vajrasattva

"Vajrasattva is a tantric archetype deity. Like Manjushri, Avalokitesvara, Tara, and the other celestial Bodhisattvas, he is a Buddha who persists in a Bodhisattva form to help beeings on the path. "Sattva" means "spiritual hero or heroine," and vajra [diamond or thunderbolt] is associated with power and maleness. Vajrasattva might be considered a counterpart of Va-jradhara, the quintessential tantric female Budda form. They are connected with the vajra Buddha clan, associated with the Buddha Akshobhya, and with the ultimate reality perfection wisdom, developed from the transmutation of the poison of hate.

Vajrasattva is the subject of many hymns and verses. He is supplicated in the special yoga of repetance tat employs his special, well known hundred syllable mantra. He is usually in blue color and is generally represented seated, with a vajra held before his heart, which rests akimbo on the left thigh.

The vajra and the bell are symbolic of compassion and wisdom, male and female, magic body and clear light, respectively, depending on the level of refer-ence of the symbolism."