Object name: Vajra / Collection place: Xizang autonomous region (Tibet), Tibetan Pleatau, China / Loans: S1972-1973 #91: Southeast Asian Studies Department (UC Berkeley) (May 1, 1973–May 2, 1973) - Hearst Museum Portal Search Results

Start Over Object name Vajra Collection place Xizang autonomous region (Tibet), Tibetan Pleatau, China Loans S1972-1973 #91: Southeast Asian Studies Department (UC Berkeley) (May 1, 1973–May 2, 1973)

Hearst Museum object titled Vajra, accession number 9-10828, described as vajra, stylized ritual thunderbolt; bronze; each end has 5 “points”, 4 of which emerge from mouth of animal; extending from center ball are stylized lotus blossoms; used by monks in religious ceremonies; used concurrently with bell (see 9-10827); held in right hand between thumb and index, with other fingers extended outward; in Brahmanism the vajra symbolizes the thunderbolts of Indra, the Indian counterpart of Zeus and Jupiter; later the Nepalese Buddhists associated the vajra with Buddha.