Vajrayogini (sometimes portrayed as Vajravarahi) ranks first and most important among the dakinis. She is the “Sarva-buddha-dakini” the Dakini who is the Essence of all Buddhas. The Queen of all Dakinis. The word vajra means Diamond.
Representing the nature of the feminine she is portrayed in a desirous dancing posture. She holds a blood-filled skull cup in one hand and a curved knife (kartr or dri-gug) in the other. The curved knife represents the fact that she cuts all defilements. The cup represents what in Sanskrit is called mahasukha, which means “the great bliss.” She is in a complete state of great bliss. Her face is in a semi-wrathful expression, like many Tantric Buddhist deities. Her radiant red body is blazing with the heat of yogic fire and surrounded by the flames of wisdom.
Vajrayogini is an essence of “great passion” (maharaga), a transcendent passion that is free of selfishness and illusion. She intensely works for the well-being of others and for the destruction of ego-clinging.
She is seen as ideally suited for people with strong passions, providing the way to transform those passions into enlightened virtues. Because of this she is a preferred deity for this Kali Yuga, with its temptations for greed, deception and selfishness.
She is the Anuttarayoga Tantra Istadevi (the only and the first Deity).
Vajrayāna Buddhism teaches that the two stages of the practice of Vajrayogini (generation stage and completion stage) were originally taught by Buddha Vajradhāra.
He manifested in the form of Heruka to expound the Root Tantra of Chakrasaṃvara, and it was in this tantra that he explained the practice of Vajrayogini.