Vajra

Diamond, thunderbolt. Vajra symbolizes indestructibility and irrevocable force. In the Haṭha-pradīpikā, vajrāsana is the thunderbolt pose (seated on the heels), the foundation for pranayama and [[bandha|mudras]]. In the Upaniṣads, the vajra is the weapon of Indra, bearer of divine power. In Buddhist tantra, vajra becomes a central symbol: it represents the union of method (upāya) and wisdom (prajñā), the absolute and immutable that cuts through illusion as diamond cuts through all stone.