Dorje ritual object

Tibet, early 20th century

Cast metal (bronze?)

H: 11 cm

O 1297

Gift of Vladimír Piskáček, 1999.

A dorje (Tibetan) or vajdra (Sanskrit) is a ritual weapon, an object used in ceremonies as an attribute of menacing and meditation deities. In Vajrayana (Lamaistic) Buddhism, it symbolises the battle against evil forces, representing a metaphorical sceptre or weapon resembling a trident. It often appears as a pair with a ceremonial bell.