Samvara in Union with Vajrayogini

Samvara is the primary aspiration deity of the Kagyu Schools of Tibetan Buddhism but is also prominently featured in a number of other traditions. In the two-armed, “innate” (sahaja) form he embraces his partner Vajravarahi and holds a vajra and bell. They trample on the deities Bhairava and Kalaratri, the wrathful manifestations of the divine couple Shiva and Parvati, as obstacles to be overcome. Samvara in fact assumed many of Shiva’s iconographic characteristics, including a crescent in his high hair knot. Embracing her partner with her left arm, Vajravarahi holds a skull cup and curved knife.