Material: Nepalese hand-forged iron machete pestle

Size: Approx. 23 cm

Narrative:

The Vajra Pestle (Ye Dao) is a tool knife used to dismember animals, skin and debone, and it symbolizes chopping off evil karma and delusions. It often appears in pairs with a human skull bowl, symbolizing wisdom and compassion.

The handle is a vajra with a steel curved knife embedded underneath. Its meaning is to destroy all restraints.

There are various meridians in the human body. As people age, the meridians often become knotted. Practicing tantric Buddhism can untie the knots in the meridians, so this instrument is often used to represent the method of cultivating meridians. Some deities also often use this as a symbol of liberation, such as Yamantaka, who holds this ritual instrument as a symbol.

It is a common ritual implement in Tibetan Buddhism, representing the inviolability of the sacred Dharma and the heart of protecting Buddhism. For example, the statues of the Tibetan Buddhist Tiger-faced Dakini, Lion-faced Dakini, Yamantaka and Mahakala all hold axes in their arms.