Thunderbolt and Bell
Thunderbolt (Vajra) or Dorji (also known in Bhutan) is employed by Tantric Buddhism to dispel evil forces from the sacrificial enclosure, and hence came to symbolize spiritual forces and firmness of spirit. It also symbolizes the victorious power of knowledge over ignorance, of spirit over the passions; “the vajra symbolizes knowledge as the lotus flower symbolizes innate reason.” The thunderbolt is considered to annihilate spiritual poisons and to be an effective weapon against evil thoughts and desires.
Bells are often in opposition or as a complement to the vajras in the representations of the esoteric deities. Like vajra it also serves as a ritual instrument. The bell symbolizes sound, the creative word; the vibration generated by the repetition of a mantra and thus has a creative, innovative function. It is also intended to call hearts to the awakening.
When vajra and bell are combined, they represent the two great mandalas, the Vajradhatu and Garbhadhatu Mandalas. Since the sounds is generally very brief, the bell, through its tinkling, represents that everything is of short duration, that all is fleeting. The thunderbolt represents the masculine principles and the bell the feminine principles.