Why do some deities represented in the Geluk Tibetan Buddhist tradition look so fierce? Like other Tibetan Buddhist traditions, the Geluk school includes a rich assortment of tantric practices and meditation deities. Among the most important are Vajrabhairava and Hayagriva, wrathful deities whose fierce appearances are not expressions of anger or violence. Instead, their forms symbolize fearlessness, protection, and compassion directed against ignorance, fear, and the causes of suffering. You can find these wrathful deities in the Rubin Museum Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room at the Brooklyn Museum (brooklynmuseum), which currently features the Geluk Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Learn more about the Geluk tradition via the link in our bio. 📸: Dave De Armas; Filip Wolak #TibetanBuddhism #BuddhistArt #HimalayanArt ________ Hayagriva with consort; Mongolia; late 18th – early 19th century; Gilt copper alloy; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2005.12.2 Vajrabhairava with Consort Vajraveta...