Himalayan Art Resources

Subjects: Diamond & Vajra Terminology

Vajra & Bell Main Page

Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Description (below)
- Crystal (Initiation Cards)
- Mount Sumeru
- Coloured Mountains
- Confusions: diamond, crystal, vajra
- Others...

Videos:
- Diamond & Vajra Terminology
- Vajra & Bell: Part 1
- Vajra & Bell: Part 2

The Sanskrit term 'vajra' in the past has been used to refer to the physical substance of 'diamonds.' In Tibetan the substance of 'diamond' can be called 'dorje palam.' This however does not state that the term vajra means diamond. It can refer to diamonds and sometimes mean vajra-like, however, the original Buddhist meaning of vajra and vajra scepter remains unchanged.

Buddhist Meanings of the Term Vajra: The term vajra is found in early Pali style Buddhism and the later Mahayana Buddhism. In Vajrayana it is most commonly known as the vajra ritual scepter and matching bell. In Mahayana the term vajra relates to states of meditation known as samadhi along with bodhisattva practices such as described in the Vajracchedika Sutra. In Buddhism as a whole vajra refers to (1) a geographic location - Vajrasana, (2) a body posture - vajra asana, and to a (3) concentrated mental state - vajra samadhi.

In Vajrayana initiation rituals, especially those of the Nyingma tradition, rock crystal is often employed, sometimes with a mirror, both real, or as initiation cards. Diamond is rarely mentioned in the texts or used symbolically.

Mountains and caves made of precious jewels are described in the sutra literature and the commentaries. Mount Sumeru with four sides is described as constructed of four types of jewels or metals. Five mountains, possibly modelling Wutaishan, of five different colours are commonly used to decorate the landscape of religious paintings and murals.

In the text Sheja Rabsal (page 13) of Chogyal Pagpa, he lists the four sides of Mount Sumeru as composed of silver in the east, lapis lazuli in the south, ruby in the west and gold in the north. A Kagyupa source lists crystal for the east and emerald for the north.

If the meaning of vajra was intended to mean a physical diamond then the names of certain deities in translation would need to be rendered as, Vajrayogini - Diamond Yogini, Vajravarahi - Diamond Sow, Vajrabhairava - Diamond Terror, Hevajra - Hail! Diamond (Hail to the Diamond!), Vajra Vega - Diamond Strength, and others. These English translated names of course change considerably the basic meaning of the Sanskrit names.

Clearly the physical stone - diamond - is not intended as the meaning of the Sanskrit term 'vajra.' This can also be shown with the description of the Vajra Panjara.

The 'Vajra Pavilion' when represented in mandala paintings, or for three-dimensional mandalas, is known as the 'Vajra Circle' (Sanskrit: vajravali): inside of the outer ring of a two-dimensional mandala, painting or textile, is a circle of fire and then a vajra circle. This vajra circle is often difficult to see and easy to dismiss as simply decorative. The circle is a series of gold or yellow vajras, painted against a dark blue or black background, lined up end to end and circling around the entire mandala, deity and palace. The vajra circle is not envisioned as flat or horizontal like the lotus circle. The vajras are seen as a three dimensional pavilion, without doors or windows, completely enclosing the mandala. It is made entirely of vajra scepters, small and large, with all of the openings and voids filled with ever smaller vajras. It is a three-dimensional structure and impenetrable. Envisioned as a three-dimensional object it is called the Vajra Pavilion and according to function it is called the Outer Protection Chakra.

Jeff Watt, 9-2021

(The images below are only a selection of examples from the links above).