vajra; diamond thunderbolt
A ritual object in Buddhism and Hinduism, often depicted as a short metal scepter with prongs at both ends. Used in esoteric Buddhist ceremonies and iconography.
In esoteric Buddhist rituals, the vajra is used as an important ritual implement.
The Buddhist statue holds a vajra in its hand.
From Sanskrit vajra via Chinese 金剛杵 (jīngāngchǔ). The kanji 金剛 (diamond, adamantine) and 杵 (pestle) describe the object's symbolic indestructibility and shape.