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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Any Jewelry, post: 393017, member: 2844&quot;]Forget the Alamy description.</p><p>It is a ghanta, or bell used in Vajrayana Buddhism, the kind of Buddhism practiced mostly in the Himalayan region. It usually comes with a vajra.</p><p>This is a complete set (antique):</p><p><img src="https://s14-eu5.startpage.com/cgi-bin/serveimage?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.britishmuseum.org%2Fcollectionimages%2FAN00250%2FAN00250258_001_l.jpg&amp;sp=4a351006762cb7f0bc95451ae890c6ca" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>The ghanta symbolizes the female principle and knowledge, the vajra (Tibetan: dorje) the male principle and the path or method to attain knowledge.</p><p>The vajra symbol is also on top of the ghanta, as a handle. It is called a thunderbolt, for the sudden impact of enlightenment.</p><p>Vajrayana means the Vajra way of Buddhism.</p><p><br /></p><p>What looks like a star of David is a mandala, a Vajrayana Buddhist symbol. It stands for the interconnectedness of&nbsp; the male and female principles, the completeness of the way to attain enlightenment.</p><p><br /></p><p>The ghanta can be used by any Vajrayana Buddhist, is not connected to a temple or monastery, and is used widely in the West as well.</p><p>Yours is not antique, and was probably made in Nepal for the tourist trade or export to the West.</p><p>It may not be very old, but can help you on a spiritual path if you so wish.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/smile.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=":)" unselectable="on" /> Best to look for a vajra now.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/wink.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=";)" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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