Angry deity pendant #1

Brass pendant with a detailed, high relief depiction of a very fierce, forceful being. An angry deity.

In Tibet and Nepal, images of freightening faces of 'Angry Deities' can be found everywhere. In tantric Buddhism, they can be either the images of the fierce, wrathful aspects or forms of buddha's, bodhisattva's, deva's and deities (beings that have thus both a peaceful, friendly appearance and a forceful, horrifying form) or the images of dharmapala's; spirits and gods originating in the Tibetan pre-buddhist indigenous Bon-tradition, that are said to be 'tamed' by Padmasambhava in the 8th century CE and then sworn an oath to protect the buddhist dharma ever since.

They are portrait as terrifying, demonic-looking beings, often further adorned with gruesome ritual attributes and symbolic decorations such as (human) bones and skulls and other items associated with the charnel grounds.

But as terrifying as they might appear, they actually are often driven by compassion. They are very strong and powerful protectors and guides for those on the path to enlightenment, embodying the power and force needed to go forward and overcome and transform all obstacles on the way. They fight against all kinds of demons and evil and in Tibetan Buddhism especially against the enemies of Buddhism. 

Images from wrathful deities have also found their way into some classical shamanic lineages, such as the lineage of Spirit of Wolf. Here they are also associated with Erlik Han, Lord of the Underworld, and as such mostly used by black shamans.

These pendants can be simply hung on a cord to use as a personal protective amulet or for that purpose be sewn on your ritual costume or attributes. They come to us via our friends at Shaman Bazar.

Size: approximately 36 millimeters wide and 40 millimeters high (measured without the eyelet). Weight; approximately 24 grams.

Sold per piece.