Buddhist Deity Vajrasattva with Bell (Ghanta) and Thunderbolt (Vajra)
18th Century Tibet
Brass with Coral and Turquoise
52 x 39.1 x 32.1 cm
Art Institute of Chicago Asian Art Gallery 140
Gift of Mrs. Joseph Valentine, 1958.169

Vajrayana Buddhism, also know as The Diamond or Thunderbolt Vehicle, is a form of Buddhism that employs esoteric imagery in a significant way to achieve enlightenment through the use of mantras, hand-gestures known as mudras, mandalas, and other ritual forms of worship, like performing magical incantations, or yoga, which has become popular in western culture more so for its health benefits, rather than spiritual engagement. Due to its esoteric nature, there is a profound bond between the teacher and student of this …show more content…
Although it shares similar features to many other Buddhist figures, such as the elongated earlobes and an urna in the middle of its forehead, the physical appearance of this Vajrasattva has some key features that stand out from other bodhisattvas. For instance, it is always seen carrying a thunderbolt-shaped scepter, known as a vajra, in its right hand and a bell, called a ghanta, in his left hand placed near his hip. For Vajrasattva, these two objects literally go hand-in-hand. The firm, unbreakable scepter represents the indestructible state of Buddhist enlightenment and the bell represent sound as tantras are tantamount to its supporters. Also as this writer points out, “The vajra represents the compassion of the Buddha, the masculine principle; and the bell represents wisdom, the female principle. To achieve enlightenment, those two principles must be combined. The bell is visualized as the Buddha's body, the vajra is visualized as his mind, and the sound of the bell is visualized as Buddha's speech in teaching of the dharma.”