Vajra Symbol – History And Meaning

Vajra is a five-pronged ritual object used in Buddhist ceremonies in Tibet. Known as dorje or rdo-rje in Tibetan, varja is the symbol of the Vajrayana school of Buddhism.

The varja is a type of club made of either brass or bronze, with its four prongs at each curved around the fifth in the center, creating the shape of a lotus bud. Varjas with nine prongs are also used although less commonly. 

During rituals, the varja is often employed with the bell called ghanta in Sanskrit and tribu or dril bu in Tibetan. Vajra is believed to possess spiritual powers when done properly with the various mudras or gestures.

Vajra Symbol – History And Meaning

If you want to learn more about the Vajra symbol, read on to find out the meaning, history, and significance of this Buddhist and Hindu symbol.

Vajra Symbol History

A lama or any Vajrayana practitioner of sadhana use the vajra and tribu or dril bu in several Buddhist rituals. 

As per Indian mythology, vajra is one of the most powerful weapons in the world. Its use as a symbol and a ritual instrument originated from the Hindu religion, spreading to other sects and religions not only in India but throughout other parts of Asia as well.

The very first mention of the vajra on record is in the Rigveda part of the Vedas, where it is said to be Indra’s weapon. Indra, the king of the gods, is mentioned as using the vajra to kill both ignorant persons and sinners. He is also the god of lightning, thunder, and rain.

The vajra is made of the bones of Dadhichi, also known as Dadhyancha or Dadhyanga, whose job was to safeguard the godly weapons. Getting tired of it, he melted these weapons in the sacred water which he drank, becoming part of his bones. He sacrificed his life in a pit of flames and lots of weapons were created from his bones, one of them being the vajra.

In the Rigveda, vajra is described as the weapon Tvastar—the maker of divine instruments—created for Indra. In one tale in the puranas, Indra is mentioned as wielding the vajra in his hand to kill Vritra, an asura (an evil divine being) in his serpent form.

Having defeated the asura, Indra managed to reclaim his rightful place position as king of deva loka, the gods’ dwelling place. This is thanks to his skill in wielding the vajra.

The Vajra Symbol

The vajra as a symbol is used in the dharma traditions of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. It is symbolic of spiritual power and the firmness of spirit. 

The vajra is a male representation symbolizing upaya or skills/skillful means. Its accompanying bell is the female symbol, denoting prajna or intelligence. 

Some Hindu gods are depicted as holding the vajra and the ghanta or bell in separate hands. This way of handling the vajra is symbolic of the oneness of the forces of compassion (vajra) and wisdom (bell).

The vajra is held in the right hand with the bell in the left represents their interaction, leading to enlightenment. 

In Sanskrit, vajra is both translated as “diamond” and “thunderbolt.” 

As a symbol for the properties of a diamond, vajra signifies indestructibility as diamonds are the hardest of stones. 

As a symbol for the thunderbolt, vajra represents the irresistible force. It denotes cutting through ignorance since the god Indra kills ignorant persons with this weapon.

Vajra Symbol Meaning

Vajra is a Sanskrit word for both “thunderbolt” and “diamond.” In Tibetan, the word for this ritual object is dorje, also spelled as rdo-rje. This is used by Buddhists as a ritual tool in their religious ceremonies.

The Sanskrit “vajra” and Avestan “vazra” are also said to refer to the god Indra’s weapon. This possibly originated from the root “weg,” which is Proto-Indo-European, meaning “to be or to become powerful.” This root is also said to be connected to the Proto-Finno-Uralic “vaśara,” which is translated as “axe” or “hammer.”

In Buddhism, vajra is the symbol of Vajrayana, one of the three main schools of Buddhism. “Vajrayana” means the “Thunderbolt Way” or “Diamond Way,” which connotes the thunderbolt experience of bodhi or Buddhist enlightenment.