Attributes of Chos-Skyon Dam-can rDo-rje Legs-pa in a "rgyan tshogs" banner. Distemper painting by a Tibetan painter.

Vajrasādhu (Dorje Lekpa; Chos-Skyoṅ Dam-cam rDo-rje Legs-pa) is one of the three foremost protectors of the Dzogchen teachings maintained by the Nyingmapa tradition, and has particular importance as a custodian of treasure-doctrines (gter-chos). In geographical terms, Vajrasādhu has associations with the Oyuk region of Tsang, where he and his siblings were bound under an oath of allegiance to Buddhism by Padmasambhava in the late 8th century

At the top centre is the palatial abode of Vajrasādhu, emanating a five-coloured rainbow. In its upper storey, below the Chinese-style roof is a golden vajra (thunderbolt) flanked on either side by king's and queen's earrings, below which is a frieze containing a wheel of the Dharma flanked on either side by two deer and two human heads. In the main chamber below are the accoutrements of the Protector: a wide-brimmed rattan hat like the hat of a sṅags pa (tantric practitioner), adorned with yellow silk pendants, and a blue robe. Beneath the hat is a necklace encircling a large rectangular turquoise pendant which might perform the function of the mirror breastplate of an oracle priest. The Protector's hand-implements lie alongside: on the left the nine-pronged golden vajra and battle lance, and on the right a necklace, a human heart, and a snake-filled tiger-skin bag. The robe is draped above a sun and lotus cushion, in front of which diverse offerings, including skull bowls of nectar and blood, are arrayed. On either side of the lotus cushion is a sea of blood in which human beings are bathing. Below are large depictions of the mounts of Vajrasādhu: the snow-lion (left) and the goat (right)

In the centre of the bottom row, the red gtor ma (offering cake) of Vajrasādhu has the shape of a tower with the face of a three-eyed wrathful deity (kirtimukha) on its front elevation, and a wolf's head on the gable above the cornice. Flanking it are six skull bowls filled with the six sacramental substances including blood, human eyes on stalks and a pyramidal gtor ma. They are supported on a red plinth, which carries a frieze depicting camels and red sacks, inscribed with the eyes and mouths of a wrathful deity

[Tibet]

1 painting : distemper on linen ; distemper 62 x 47 cm.

An inscription on the top of the back indicates the position of this banner in the temple as the seventh on the left

Marianne Winder, Catalogue of Tibetan manuscripts and xylographs, and catalogue of thankas, banners and other paintings and drawings in the Library of the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, London 1989, p. 93, thankas banners and paintings no. 32

Gyurme Dorje, 'A rare series of Tibetan banners', in N. Allan (ed.), Pearls of the orient: Asian treasures of the Wellcome Library, London 2003, pp. 161-177 (p. 174 and fig. 14)

Wellcome Collection 47069i