Seated Vajrasattva

In Nepal, Vajrasattva represents the perfected Buddhist ritual practitioner. Before performing a ritual, priests and meditators establish within themselves the attitude of Vajrasattva in order to ensure that the subsequent ritual will be performed properly and yield the desired results. Although Vajrasattva is ornamented, his jewels do not indicate that he is a bodhisattva. Rather, his adornments show that he is a sambhogakaya Buddha who reveals the splendor and glory of enlightenment. In his left hand, Vajrasattva holds a bell that symbolizes clear insight into the true nature of reality. Vajrasattva’s right hand bears a vajra that symbolizes the compassionate application of that insight to help other beings skillfully. In Mahayana Buddhism, it is only by combining intellectual insight with compassionate activity that true enlightenment is achieved.