The Story of Vajriputra's Fly-Whisk

Arhat Vajriputra is often depicted holding a fly whisk in his left hand, a unique trait among the Sixteen Arhats. While the whisk might seem ordinary at first glance, it conveys profound meaning in the context of Vajrayana Buddhism. The story of his fly-whisk (rna-yab) is traced to an old time when Arhat Vajriputra went to collect alms in the land of Gandharva. There, he taught Dharma to those celestial beings, and as a result, all of them were freed from the cycle of rebirth (samsara). Thus, the Gandharvas made valuable offerings to the Arahant, including a sweetly perfumed fly whisk. 

As a bhikshu, Vajriputra accepted the alms but transformed all those heavenly offerings into one fly-whisk, thus making it his attribute. It is said that a devotee who sees, touches, or senses the aroma of the scented fly whisk will gain sublime wisdom and complete control of the mind. That devotee will also receive all physical marks of perfection and will be illumined with an infinite radiance, which will help other beings on the path of enlightenment.

Explore more about the origins of Vajriputra, his legends, and his symbolism in Vajrayana in this detailed blog.

Who Are the Arhats in Vajrayana Buddhism?

Arhat is someone who has fully realized Nirvana, vanquished the binding influence of the Three Poisons (ignorance, attachment, and aversion), and thus is no longer subject to rebirth. They are considered perfect disciples of the Shakyamuni Buddha who have been entrusted with safeguarding the Tathagata's teachings until the savior Maitreya arrives in the future.

Click on this link to explore the names of the Sixteen Arhats and their origin story.

Arhat Vajriputra Hails From A Royal Background

Before his life as the "Noble One," Vajriputra lived a life full of royal grandeur as a prince in the ancient city of Kaushambi. His father was the king of the ancient Indian city and a faithful follower of Arya Katyayana. As a prince, Vajriputra grew up to be fully inclined towards the study of sciences, arts, and handicrafts. As a hopeful scholar, he came across Shakyamuni Buddha's teachings through Katyayana and took refuge in learning the Dharma.

In doing so, he observed that his father did not rule the land according to religious codes and he later let out his intention of not succeding the royal throne. Hence, he pleaded with his birthgivers and got their permission to start his life as a monk. Vajriputra learned the Three Pitakas under Katyayana and was ordained as a monk. To start afresh, the two also changed their abode and moved to a new region called Gyen-du-rgyal. There, Vajriputra followed the strict codes as a bhikshu, and in time, he attained Arhatship.

Iconography of Arhat Vajriputra

The iconography of Arhat Vajriputra is filled with symbolism that highlights his enlightened status, wisdom, and compassionate role within the Buddhist tradition, especially in Vajrayana Buddhism. His representations frequently underscore both his wisdom and his function as a teacher. Below are the key features commonly seen in his iconography:

1. Regal Robes: Vajriputra is often shown wearing traditional and regal robes that are indicative of his former status as a royal but his renunciation of worldly attachments. 
2. Seated Posture: He is often depicted in a seated meditative posture, reflecting his enlightened state. This posture shows that he has attained deep insight and mastery over the mind.
3. Facial Expression: His facial expression is typically serene in addition to his calm demeanor that reflects his perfect mastery over his mind.
4. Vajra Mudra on the right hand: Vajriputra is shown making the Vajra Mudra with his right hand. This gesture represents wisdom and the unshakable truth.
5. Fly-Whisk on the left hand: As mentioned above, the Chamara symbolizes purification, compassion, and the dispelling of obstacles on the spiritual path. It truly complements the Vajra Mudra.
6. Coloration: Vajriputra is frequently portrayed with a golden or radiant glow, representing his enlightened essence and his link to the divine wisdom and strength of the vajra.
7. Surrounded by a retinue: Vajriputra dwells in Singa la'i-glin with his retinue of 1000 Arhats, as instructed by Shakyamuni Buddha.

The iconography of Arhat Vajriputra highlights wisdom, purification, compassion, and spiritual strength. His vajra hand gesture and a fly-whisk while being dressed in ornate monastic robes and exhibiting calm and enlightened traits are worthy of his status as a Sthavira. These visual aspects convey his significant spiritual accomplishments, his role as a compassionate mentor, and his capacity to assist others in overcoming ignorance and discovering the way to liberation.

The Sacred Chronicles of Arhat Vajriputra

Before attaining Arhatship, Vajriputra, also called Dorje Möbu in Tibetan, was on his daily routine of collecting alms. One fine day, he happened to arrive at the gate of a royal palace. Coincidentally, there were no guards on duty at that time. Hence, Dorje Möbu let himself in hopes of gaining an offering. While en route, he was spotted by the king's consorts, and they were in awe of the young bhikkhu's physical beauty. They wondered why such a handsome young man would choose the life of a monk. The group of consorts then invited the monk inside, served him a delicious feast, and later sat around him to learn the divine teachings.

Right at this time, the king arrived at the chambers where his queens were very much absorbed in listening to the young Vajriputra's lessons. Thus, the queens failed to rise from their seats to welcome the king, which was their usual etiquette. Seeing this, the king was displeased and was even more angry when he saw a young man inside his queens' quarters. The monarch then ordered his servants to beat the monk and throw him out of the palace. Vajriputra was filled with anger at his treatment by the ruler, and he returned to his master Katyayana and sought the latter's permission to relinquish his monk's vows. He wished to return to his home country to assemble an army to conquer his recent foe.

Vajriputra was so engraved into his anger that no consoling of his wise master made him calm down. At last, the master pacified him with reason to stay one more night before departing as the day was about to end. The angry monk decided to stay, but his dream that day made him realize his mistake. He saw that he was successful in raising an army against the king, who treated him badly. But the battle resulted in his own loss, and he was dragged to the place of his execution, where he begged Arya Katyayana to rescue him. Later, the king also realized his mistake and paid seven days of reverence and service to Katyayana. Here, the dream happened due to the controlling power of the Master, who wanted the angry Dorje Möbu to realize his religious vows in a non-violent approach.

This legend of Vajriputra teaches us that those who have embraced Buddha's teachings and have monks should not have attachment to the idea of a country, kinsmen, and property. They should dwell far away in quiet and solitude while obeying their spiritual teacher. They should learn to implement the four moral austerities of action and speech to uphold the Buddha's lessons. 

Final Reflections: The Deep Lessons of Vajriputra

In exploring the life and symbolism of Vajriputra, we discover profound teachings that continue to motivate practitioners on their journey to enlightenment. The fly-whisk he carries serves as a powerful symbol of purification, compassion, and the removal of mental barriers. In Vajrayana Buddhism, this seemingly simple tool reminds us that achieving enlightenment requires not only wisdom but also the capacity to guide others with kindness, helping to dispel ignorance and distractions along the way. Meanwhile, Vajriputra’s legendary story of the dream battle with a king further highlights his spiritual path.

The tale of where he confronts the challenges presented by the king in a dream world symbolizes the inner conflict that every practitioner must face—the struggle between illusion and reality, ego and wisdom. His loss in this dream battle represents the triumph of enlightenment over the forces that keep us trapped in suffering and delusion. The message is clear: even in the toughest situations, wisdom and compassion are essential for overcoming obstacles.

Ultimately, Vajriputra’s journey and the symbolism of his fly-whisk encourage us to embrace the dual aspects of the spiritual path: the strength of wisdom and the gentleness of compassion. These teachings are timeless, reminding us that the quest for enlightenment involves not just intellectual comprehension but also nurturing a heart capable of purifying, uplifting, and guiding others toward the ultimate truth. As we contemplate Vajriputra’s life and the lessons he shares, we are reminded to balance inner strength with compassion as we navigate our own spiritual journeys.