About the Vajra and Bell

During Buddhist ritual ceremonies (or during one's personal practice), the vajra is used to invoke celestial beings while the bell welcomes their presence with heavenly music.

The vajra represents “method” i.e. is great compassion beyond personal preoccupations which brings forth indestructible awareness-energy. The bell's shape and sound are a metaphor for wisdom’s clear, space-like nature, with sound (phenomena) arising from silence and returning there shortly after.

The base of the bell is typically decorated with an impenetrable vertical vajra fence, enclosed between two rows of pearls. Above this are the traditional eight heads of the Kirtimukha (eight faces of glory), with strings of pearls and jewels hanging from their ferocious mouths, interspersed with the auspicious emblems of the eight great Bodhisattvas.

Above the Kirtimukha is a horizontal vajra circle and on the shoulder of the bell is an eight-petaled lotus, each petal inscribed with a Tibetan syllable. The stem of the bell features the head of the Goddess Prajnaparamita above a long life vase.

• Material: Bronze alloy, brass
• Bell height: 153 mm (6-in)
• Bell diameter: 80 mm (3.1-in)
• Vajra length: 112 mm (4.4-in)
• Weight: 0.43 kg (0.9 lb)