Vajra

An item at Metropolitan Museum of 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.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art