Vajra is one of the Twelve Heavenly Generals who serve and protect Yakushi Nyorai (the Medicine Buddha) and his followers. Commanding 7,000 yakshas, Vajra appears with an expression of wrath so intense it seems to pierce the heavens, vanquishing the enemies of Buddhism.
The name "Vajra" is a transliteration of the Sanskrit term Vajra (meaning "diamond" or "thunderbolt"). He is typically depicted holding a vajra, a ritual weapon. His honjibutsu (original enlightenment Buddha) is Seishi Bosatsu (Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta).
This representation is modeled after the statue of Vajra, one of the Twelve Heavenly Generals, considered a masterpiece of Kamakura-period tenbu (guardian deity) sculpture and designated a Japanese National Treasure.
The statue is characterized by its vivid and dynamic pose, an intense and awe-inspiring expression, and a palpable tension that extends even to the tips of its fingers. The unique sculptural design, which uses space dramatically both in front and behind the figure, has been faithfully reproduced in a palm-sized form. Atop Vajra's head, the face of a dog—a symbol of the deity associated with the Inu zodiac sign—can be seen.