Untitled

Unknown

ca. 10th century · Bronze · Asian Art

Symbolizing the energy associated with enlightenment, the vajra is often described as a bolt of lightning with the indestructible, luminescent quality of a diamond. Vajras like these examples are used in Esoteric Buddhist rituals in conjunction with mantras and hand gestures. On each end, the four prongs, representing the cardinal directions, surround a central spike marking the cosmic axis.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 10th century

Medium

Bronze

Culture

Indonesia, Java

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Samuel Eilenberg Collection, Gift of Samuel Eilenberg, 1987