Vajrakila Mandala

The wrathful form of Vajrakila cuts through ignorance like a flash of lightning on a dark night. Beautiful and terrible, winged, Vajrakila is shown on a multicolored lotus seat with his consort Diptachakra (Flaming Wheel) in a pure fire of subtle mind. In the mandala, the whole universe dawns as a great palace with four gates, ringed by the limits of cyclical existence to mark the boundlessness of the Buddha’s regard for sentient beings. The practice of Vajrakila is famously powerful for removing obstacles to dharma practice associated with the 8 pronouncements and the great herukas. It is most commonly found in the Nyingma and Sakya schools. As a wrathful aspect of Vajrasattva, Vajrakila embodies the enlightened activity of all Buddhas. Connecting with this mandala illustrates the single-pointed clarity and courage needed to focus on cultivating bodhicitta without fear.