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[[File:Vajra.jpg|thumb|A vajra]] | [[File:Vajra, Tibet, 11th-12th century, iron and brass - Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive - DSC04056.JPG|thumb|upright=1.2|Vajra, Tibet, 11th-12th century, iron and brass]] | ||
[[File:British Museum Tibetan Bell and Vajra B.jpg|thumb|upright=.8|A Tibetan vajra and bell, British Museum]] | |||
'''Vajra''' in Sanskrit means thunderbolt or diamond; that which is hard, impenetrable; that which destroys but is itself indestructible. The vajra is a symbol of the thunderbolt representing the adamantine nature of Truth. | |||
In Tibetan, it is called a ''dorje''. In Tibetan Buddhism, the dorje is a masculine symbol that stands for the skillful means used to liberate beings. It is often used in conjunction with the ritual bell, the feminine symbol of wisdom. | |||
The vajra is used in rituals, especially the exorcism of evil spirits. In the 8th century, [[Padma Sambhava]], the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, used the vajra to conquer the demons opposing the establishment of Buddhism in Tibet. | |||
Vajras can have three, five or nine spokes. Nine-spoked vajras are least commonly used. When the spokes of a vajra meet at the tip it is a peaceful vajra. When the spokes are splayed, or spread outward, at the tips, it is a wrathful vajra. | |||
It is said that each spoke emerges from the mouth of a mythical sea creature, which symbolizes freedom from cyclic existence. | |||
== In Buddhism == | |||
According to Buddhist teaching, the vajra cleaves through ignorance and therefore symbolizes the indestructible nature of the Buddha’s wisdom and the victory of knowledge over illusion. In Buddhism, the vajra also symbolizes the essence of everything that exists as well as universal love and compassion. | |||
In Vajrayana Buddhism, it is the symbol of bodhicitta, or enlightenment. In some traditions, the vajra signifies the union of man and the [[Buddha]]; one end of the vajra symbolizes the macrocosmic realm of the Buddha and the other end the microcosmic realm of man. | In Vajrayana Buddhism, it is the symbol of bodhicitta, or enlightenment. In some traditions, the vajra signifies the union of man and the [[Buddha]]; one end of the vajra symbolizes the macrocosmic realm of the Buddha and the other end the microcosmic realm of man. | ||
[[File:Indra deva.jpg|thumb|Indra on his elephant mount, Airavata, carrying a vajra in his left hand]] | |||
== In Hinduism == | |||
Prior to the founding of Buddhism, the vajra was used in Hinduism. The Hindu god Indra used the vajra to destroy the serpent Vritra, who had confiscated the waters of existence and was guarding them in the hollow of a rock. Indra wielded the vajra to smite the head of Vritra and cleave the rock, allowing the waters of creation to flow. | |||
Scholar David Frawley says that as Indra’s weapon, the vajra symbolizes “the lightning-bolt of illumined perception, the flashing of power of the Divine Word that is the solar weapon of the enlightened mind.”<ref>David Frawley, ''Wisdom of Ancient Seers,'' p. 142.</ref> | |||
== Stabilizing the earth == | |||
In Buddhism, [[Gautama]]’s gesture of striking the earth is equivalent to Indra’s hurling the vajra. Both are seen as symbolic of stabilizing the earth. Gautama used the earth-touching gesture when the forces of the evil Mara challenged his right to attain enlightenment and Buddhahood. Mara’s armies assailed Gautama with hurricanes, a flood, flaming rocks, boiling mud, a storm of deadly weapons, hordes of demons and total darkness. Immovable, Gautama tapped the earth, and the earth thundered her answer, “I bear you witness!” whereupon Mara fled. | |||
In certain Buddhist rituals the devotee touches the earth with a vajra and uses Gautama’s earth-touching gesture. These actions are symbolic of stabilizing the earth and activating the mind of enlightenment. | |||
== Use of the vajra == | |||
El Morya has explained that the vajra should not be used by the chelas: | |||
<blockquote> | |||
Speaking of the vajra, beloved, this is not a toy, indeed. The [[Darjeeling Council]] many years ago agreed that all of you should have an [[Archangel Michael sword]] (this you may wield, as you have been told) and that your sword should not be sharpened lest there be any accident. When it comes to using the vajra, beloved, you should leave it to the messenger. It ought to be abundantly clear that when this vajra is thrust forward it is done through the messenger by the entire hierarchy of light. And this is a major dispensation that we have delivered to the messenger.... That has been a tremendous gift. | |||
Therefore let the messenger be the messenger and throw the thunderbolts as I throw them through her. I ask you, then, that if you own such vajras, that you lay them upon your altar and let them be the focus there, if you will, of the messenger’s work. And let them be the focus also of your support of the messenger.<ref>El Morya, “The Agenda for 1996 Is the Will of God,” Part 1, {{POWref|46|41|, October 12, 2003}}</ref> | |||
</blockquote> | |||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
{{POWref|31|21|, May 22, 1988}} | {{POWref|31|21|, May 22, 1988}} | ||
<references /> | |||
Latest revision as of 18:56, 30 December 2025
Vajra in Sanskrit means thunderbolt or diamond; that which is hard, impenetrable; that which destroys but is itself indestructible. The vajra is a symbol of the thunderbolt representing the adamantine nature of Truth.
In Tibetan, it is called a dorje. In Tibetan Buddhism, the dorje is a masculine symbol that stands for the skillful means used to liberate beings. It is often used in conjunction with the ritual bell, the feminine symbol of wisdom.
The vajra is used in rituals, especially the exorcism of evil spirits. In the 8th century, Padma Sambhava, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, used the vajra to conquer the demons opposing the establishment of Buddhism in Tibet.
Vajras can have three, five or nine spokes. Nine-spoked vajras are least commonly used. When the spokes of a vajra meet at the tip it is a peaceful vajra. When the spokes are splayed, or spread outward, at the tips, it is a wrathful vajra.
It is said that each spoke emerges from the mouth of a mythical sea creature, which symbolizes freedom from cyclic existence.
In Buddhism
According to Buddhist teaching, the vajra cleaves through ignorance and therefore symbolizes the indestructible nature of the Buddha’s wisdom and the victory of knowledge over illusion. In Buddhism, the vajra also symbolizes the essence of everything that exists as well as universal love and compassion.
In Vajrayana Buddhism, it is the symbol of bodhicitta, or enlightenment. In some traditions, the vajra signifies the union of man and the Buddha; one end of the vajra symbolizes the macrocosmic realm of the Buddha and the other end the microcosmic realm of man.
In Hinduism
Prior to the founding of Buddhism, the vajra was used in Hinduism. The Hindu god Indra used the vajra to destroy the serpent Vritra, who had confiscated the waters of existence and was guarding them in the hollow of a rock. Indra wielded the vajra to smite the head of Vritra and cleave the rock, allowing the waters of creation to flow.
Scholar David Frawley says that as Indra’s weapon, the vajra symbolizes “the lightning-bolt of illumined perception, the flashing of power of the Divine Word that is the solar weapon of the enlightened mind.”[1]
Stabilizing the earth
In Buddhism, Gautama’s gesture of striking the earth is equivalent to Indra’s hurling the vajra. Both are seen as symbolic of stabilizing the earth. Gautama used the earth-touching gesture when the forces of the evil Mara challenged his right to attain enlightenment and Buddhahood. Mara’s armies assailed Gautama with hurricanes, a flood, flaming rocks, boiling mud, a storm of deadly weapons, hordes of demons and total darkness. Immovable, Gautama tapped the earth, and the earth thundered her answer, “I bear you witness!” whereupon Mara fled.
In certain Buddhist rituals the devotee touches the earth with a vajra and uses Gautama’s earth-touching gesture. These actions are symbolic of stabilizing the earth and activating the mind of enlightenment.
Use of the vajra
El Morya has explained that the vajra should not be used by the chelas:
Speaking of the vajra, beloved, this is not a toy, indeed. The Darjeeling Council many years ago agreed that all of you should have an Archangel Michael sword (this you may wield, as you have been told) and that your sword should not be sharpened lest there be any accident. When it comes to using the vajra, beloved, you should leave it to the messenger. It ought to be abundantly clear that when this vajra is thrust forward it is done through the messenger by the entire hierarchy of light. And this is a major dispensation that we have delivered to the messenger.... That has been a tremendous gift.
Therefore let the messenger be the messenger and throw the thunderbolts as I throw them through her. I ask you, then, that if you own such vajras, that you lay them upon your altar and let them be the focus there, if you will, of the messenger’s work. And let them be the focus also of your support of the messenger.[2]
Sources
Pearls of Wisdom, vol. 31, no. 21, May 22, 1988.