important are those that protect and empower the
practitioner and the ritual space. These are placed on
the ritual altar and include the various forms of vajra,
the vajraspikes placed at the four corners to support
a five-colored rope, the cakra placed in the center, and
crossed vajraat the four corners.
Most frequently composed of clawlike opposed
outer prongs and a sharply notched profile, vajrare-
semble stylized thunderbolts. The most common form
is one with three prongs on each end, said to symbol-
ize the three mysteries of body, speech, and mind.
Other vajrainclude the five-prong form, symbolizing
the five wisdoms of the five buddhas, and the single-
prong form, symbolizing the universal truth. The im-
plements are usually fashioned from gilt bronze, but
esoteric texts specify that they may also be made from
gold, silver, copper, iron stone, rock crystal, acacia,
sandalwood, and purple sandalwood.
The cakra was believed to be one of the seven trea-
sures of a cakravartin or universal monarch. Said to
miraculously precede him into battle, conquering foes
in the four directions, the cakra resembles a wheel. Dif-
ferent texts mention cakra with a varying number of
spokes. Those with four spokes symbolize the FOUR
NOBLE TRUTHSand those with six symbolize the realms
of existence. In Japan, where it is called a rimpo,the
wheel most often takes an eight-spoked form that was
thought to symbolize the eightfold PATH. The crossed
vajra(known in Japanese as katsuma) resembles two
intersecting three-pronged vajra.Based upon an In-
dian weapon that was hurled, this metal implement is
believed to provide protection in the four directions.
The second category of implements used in esoteric
rituals are those that hold various materials used in
the ritual to purify the deity and the officiant. Most
often they consist of a set of covered containers for
water and powdered incense, which are placed near
the ritual dais. A third category includes vessels for
holding the offerings to be made to the deity. These
consist of a censer for burnt incense offerings and the
six vessels, which hold offerings of sacred water, floral
garlands, powdered incense, and light. Generally made
from gilt bronze, they are placed in sets along the four
sides of the ritual dais. Vases for offerings of flowersRITUALOBJECTS
Monks rotate prayer wheels at the Ivolginski Datsan Temple in Buryatiya, eastern Siberia. © Oleg Nishikin/Getty Images. Reproduced
by permission.