Vajrapani doesn't, to many newcomers to Buddhism, look very Buddhist at all. He is a Bodhisattva who represents the energy of the enlightened mind, and his mantra also symbolizes that quality. He's pictured dancing wildly within a halo of flames, which represent transformation. He holds a vajra (thunderbolt) in his right hand, which emphasizes the power to cut through the darkness of delusion. Vajrapani looks wrathful, but as a representation of the enlightened mind, he's completely free from hatred.

His mantra is simply his name, which means "wielder of the thunderbolt", framed between the mystical syllables Om and Huum. This mantra helps us to gain access to the irrepressible energy that Vajrapani symbolizes. A familiarity with Vajrapani does, of course, help here, although the sound of the mantra is itself rather energetic.

Vajrapani (Chana Dorje>phyag.na rdo.rje) is royal blue or blue-black, and, in peaceful form, balances the dorje upon his palm or wrathful, wields a vajra (dorje) in warning as if to throw it. In another wrathful form, he also holds a noose or fetter. In very wrathful form, he is winged.

Vajrapani (Chin: Jin Gang Shou; Jap: Kongo Shu) means "Lightning Hand," an epithet pointing to his identity with India's thunderbolt-wielding king of gods, Indra, also called Shakra (Pali: Sakka.) This identity is borne out by his other Buddhist epithets, i.e. Vasava, Devinda, Maghava, Sahasranetra (Pali: Sahasranetta,) though in his role as a Dharma-protector, the ancient title Purindara meaning "town-wrecker" became Purinda or "town-keeper" ( R. Bannerjee.)

Indra rules the lower five of six Kama-deva-lokas and his abode is in the heaven called Trayastrimsa (Pali: Tavatimsa.) His consort is Suja, his chariot and/or his palace is called Vijayanta (Victorious,) and his driver is called Matali. His mount is the elephant, Airavata (Pali: Eravana.)

Vajrapani is associated with Buddha Shakyamuni and mentioned, usually by one of his other names, as the attendant who accompanied Him wherever he went. In accounts of the Buddha's life, his presence is evoked by means of the phrase, Mighty as an Elephant or Mahasthamaprapta (Tib. Thuchenthop -- Great Strength as Elephant.) This epithet is especially used when he is shown standing beside Amitayus (the Long-life buddha-form of Amitabha,) along with Chenrezi. In images, he is usually depicted on the left while Chenrezig is on the right of Amitayus. (In Vietnamese, Avalokitesvara is called Quan The Am Bo Tat or Quan Am, and Mahasthanaprapta is called Dai The Chi Bo Tat.)

Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta was the member of the Noble Sangha who stopped a rolling boulder aimed at the Buddha while he was teaching on Emptiness at Rajgriha (Vulture's Peak.) He therefore embodies "skillful means" or insightful technique.

Vajrapani also represents righteous wrath, an association derived from an account where, when someone behaved insolently to Buddha Shakyamuni, refusing to answer his question, he instantly appeared above his head ready to let loose a thunderbolt.

It is said that when the Tathagata subdued the gigantic naga of Udyana, he charged Vajrapani to guard the other serpents who had surrendered seeking refuge from the attack of Garuda. He is also the enemy of the titans/demons who possessed the supreme poison halahala.

Besides being the champion of the vajra family of Buddhas, all the power of the 5 primordial buddhas are united in him. Therefore, he is invoked to overcome interior obstacles including psychological illness, and in times of overwhelming circumstances.

In his association with tantric practices, he is sometimes called Ghuyapati or Lord of Secrets. In Japanese, he is called Kongo; in Chinese, Da Shi Zhi

He appears also in a form in which he assimilates Hayagriva and Garuda. That form of Vajrapani is believed to be especially effective against grave diseases. He is also associated with other wrathful deities depicted as winged.