Vajravarahi
Vajravarahi, also known as Dorje Phagmo, is a prominent deity in Tibetan Buddhism. She is revered as a fierce and powerful manifestation of enlightened wisdom and compassion. Vajravarahi is often depicted as a wrathful deity, symbolizing the transformative energy needed to overcome obstacles and delusions on the path to enlightenment. She holds a skull cup filled with blood, representing the transformation of negative emotions into wisdom nectar, and a curved knife, symbolizing the cutting through of ignorance and dualistic thinking. With her fierce appearance, Vajravarahi represents the intensity and determination required to face and transcend the challenges of existence. Devotees turn to Vajravarahi for protection, healing, and spiritual transformation.
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Iconography:
Vajravarahi is typically depicted as a red or dark blue deity with one face and two or four arms. She has a wrathful expression with fangs, a crown of skulls, and a third eye symbolizing her wisdom. Vajravarahi's primary hands hold a skull cup filled with blood, and a curved knife, while her secondary hands may hold various symbolic objects such as a vajra (thunderbolt), trident, or lotus. She stands on a prostrate figure representing ignorance and ego, and often has a garland of severed heads adorning her body.
History:
Vajravarahi has a rich history within Tibetan Buddhism. Her origins can be traced back to ancient Indian goddesses like Chinnamasta and Vajrayogini. Vajravarahi's practice was integrated into the Tibetan Buddhist tradition through the teachings of Indian masters like Naropa and Marpa, and later transmitted by Tibetan masters such as Milarepa and Tsongkhapa. Her practice became particularly prevalent in the Kagyu, Sakya, and Nyingma traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, where she is considered a key deity within the inner tantric practices.
Temples and Monasteries:
Vajravarahi is highly venerated in numerous temples and monasteries throughout the world. While there may not be a specific temple dedicated solely to Vajravarahi in Nepal, she is worshipped in several Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and retreat centers within the country. Some notable temples and monasteries associated with Vajravarahi can be found in other parts of the world, such as the Nalanda Temple in France, Samye Ling Monastery in Scotland, and Kopan Monastery in Nepal.
Benefits of Practicing Vajravarahi:
The practice of Vajravarahi offers various benefits to its practitioners. By connecting with her fierce energy, devotees can transform negative emotions into wisdom and compassion. Vajravarahi's practice is believed to purify negative karma, protect against obstacles, and grant spiritual realization. Devotees seek her blessings for healing physical ailments, overcoming fear and obstacles, and attaining spiritual liberation. Through her practice, practitioners aim to develop clarity of mind, inner strength, and the ability to skillfully navigate the challenges of life.
How to Practice:
The practice of Vajravarahi is typically taught as an advanced tantric practice within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. It requires receiving empowerment (initiation) from a qualified teacher and engaging in specific rituals, visualizations, and mantra recitations. The practice often involves meditation on Vajravarahi's form, reciting her mantra, and engaging in deity yoga, which involves visualizing oneself as the deity. To embark on this practice, it is essential to seek guidance from an experienced teacher who can provide proper instructions and support.
Mantras of Vajravarahi:
The mantra associated with Vajravarahi is:
"OM BENZAR VAJRA KILI KILIYA SARVA BIGHANEN BAM HUM PHAT"
Reciting this mantra with devotion and understanding is believed to invoke the blessings and protection of Vajravarahi. The mantra can be chanted as part of the deity's practice or recited individually for specific purposes such as purification, removing obstacles, and cultivating inner strength. It is recommended to receive proper guidance from a qualified teacher to ensure accurate pronunciation and understanding of the mantra's meaning.
Process: Sand Casting
This Vajravarahi has been created using the sand casting system, also known as sand molding casting. This widely employed manufacturing process utilizes a sand mold to produce metal products and components in various sizes and shapes. Sand casting holds significant popularity in the industry, accounting for approximately 60% of all metal castings. The sand casting process involves six primary steps. First, a pattern or replica of the desired sculpture, in this case, Vajravarahi, is created using a material like wood or metal. The pattern is then placed in a flask, which is a box-like structure divided into two halves. The next step involves packing the flask tightly with specially formulated molding sand, creating a mold cavity that matches the shape of the pattern. The pattern is subsequently removed, leaving behind a negative impression of the sculpture within the sand mold.
The third step is known as gating and risering, where additional channels and reservoirs are added to the mold to facilitate the flow of molten metal and compensate for any shrinkage during solidification. Once the gating system is prepared, the mold is carefully closed and secured. The fourth step involves pouring the molten metal, such as bronze or iron, into the mold through the gating system. After the metal has cooled and solidified, the mold is broken open, revealing the solid metal sculpture. The final steps involve removing any excess material, surface finishing, and polishing to achieve the desired appearance.
Sand casting offers several advantages, including its versatility in producing complex shapes, cost-effectiveness for both small and large-scale productions, and the ability to use a wide range of metals. However, it does require skilled craftsmanship and careful attention to ensure the quality and accuracy of the final sculpture. By utilizing the sand casting system, the Vajravarahi embodies the craftsmanship and artistry of the process, resulting in a captivating and unique metal artwork.
The process cycle for sand casting consists of six main stages, which are explained below
Mold-making -The first step in the sand casting process is to create the mold for the casting. In an expendable mold process, this step must be performed for each casting. A sand mold is formed by packing sand into each half of the mold. The sand is packed around the pattern, which is a replica of the external shape of the casting. When the pattern is removed, the cavity that will form the casting remains. Any internal features of the casting that cannot be formed by the pattern are formed by separate cores which are made of sand prior to the formation of the mold. Further details on mold-making will be described in the next section. The mold-making time includes positioning the pattern, packing the sand, and removing the pattern. The mold-making time is affected by the size of the part, the number of cores, and the type of sand mold. If the mold type requires heating or baking time, the mold-making time is substantially increased. Also, lubrication is often applied to the surfaces of the mold cavity in order to facilitate removal of the casting. The use of a lubricant also improves the flow the metal and can improve the surface finish of the casting. The lubricant that is used is chosen based upon the sand and molten metal temperature.
Clamping - Once the mold has been made, it must be prepared for the molten metal to be poured. The surface of the mold cavity is first lubricated to facilitate the removal of the casting. Then, the cores are positioned and the mold halves are closed and securely clamped together. It is essential that the mold halves remain securely closed to prevent the loss of any material.
Pouring - The molten metal is maintained at a set temperature in a furnace. After the mold has been clamped, the molten metal can be ladled from its holding container in the furnace and poured into the mold. The pouring can be performed manually or by an automated machine. Enough molten metal must be poured to fill the entire cavity and all channels in the mold. The filling time is very short in order to prevent early solidification of any one part of the metal.
Cooling - The molten metal that is poured into the mold will begin to cool and solidify once it enters the cavity. When the entire cavity is filled and the molten metal solidifies, the final shape of the casting is formed. The mold can not be opened until the cooling time has elapsed. The desired cooling time can be estimated based upon the wall thickness of the casting and the temperature of the metal. Most of the possible defects that can occur are a result of the solidification process. If some of the molten metal cools too quickly, the part may exhibit shrinkage, cracks, or incomplete sections. Preventative measures can be taken in designing both the part and the mold and will be explored in later sections.
Removal - After the predetermined solidification time has passed, the sand mold can simply be broken, and the casting removed. This step, sometimes called shakeout, is typically performed by a vibrating machine that shakes the sand and casting out of the flask. Once removed, the casting will likely have some sand and oxide layers adhered to the surface. Shot blasting is sometimes used to remove any remaining sand, especially from internal surfaces, and reduce the surface roughness.
Trimming - During cooling, the material from the channels in the mold solidifies attached to the part. This excess material must be trimmed from the casting either manually via cutting or sawing, or using a trimming press. The time required to trim the excess material can be estimated from the size of the casting's envelope. A larger casting will require a longer trimming time. The scrap material that results from this trimming is either discarded or reused in the sand casting process. However, the scrap material may need to be reconditioned to the proper chemical composition before it can be combined with non-recycled metal and reused.
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