Dorje vajra We may recognize the Assyrian thunderbolt in the hindu vajra, the weapon of the God Indra. The Buddhist dorje, a symbol frequently occurring in Mahayanism and Lamaism, is the Buddhist form of the vajra. This “thunderbolt” emblem first appeared in Indian Buddhism as the symbol of Vajrapani (“thunderbolt in hand”), the special protector of Shakyamuni, a direct borrowing of the trident weapon of the Vedic god Indra. In later Buddhism, Vajrapani became the chief deity of the powerful beings converted to Buddhism. The vajra thus symbolizes indestructibility and overwhelming power. The Tibetan word dorje can be translated “diamond” or “sovereign of stones”. Thus vajra/dorje is expressive of the adamantine (“diamond-hard”) quality of Buddha-mind. The vajra is seen in Tibetan art as the attribute of several deities who either hold it in one of their hands or have it placed near or on their body. The vajra is also used as an element in religious architecture and decoration, both in the single and crossed forms. This symbol furthermore occurs in Tibet as a tool for ritual use. As such it is always paired with the bell (T. dril-bu; S. ghanta). The bell must match the vajra in size and have as its handle a half-vajra of similar form. Mahayanist doctrine developed a scheme of pairing the vajra symbol, with is conceived of as “means” and masculine, with the lotus symbol, conceived of as “wisdom” and female. The union of vajra and lotus symbolizes the supreme truth. In Tibet the bell replaces the lotus as the female emblem of wisdom and is manipulated together with the vajra in rituals.
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 21:00:23 +0000
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