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The Viswa Vajra
A viswa vajra in pendant form. Photo credit: Kashgar
The viswa vajra is created by two crossed vajras or four vajra-heads that sit at the cardinal points of a central hub. Vajra is a Sanskrit word that means both thunderbolt and diamond. As a ritual object in Buddhism, the vajra symbolises the indestructibility of a diamond and the irresistible force of the thunderbolt. The crossed, double or universal vajra is thus called the viswa vajra and represents the absolute stability of the physical world. It is also a powerful protective symbol that cannot be destroyed but itself destroys all evil. It is associated with Amogasiddhi, one of the five Dhyani Buddhas whose mudra is Granting Protection or Fearlessness (hand raised with outward facing palm) and whose consort is the Green Tara.
With its dual meaning of stability and protection from evil, deception and temptation, the viswa vajra is utilised extensively in Buddhism in its two dimensional and three dimensional forms. It is often found stamped or applied to the base plate of statues that have been consecrated, and to canisters and containers that hold precious relics, important documents or prayers. It can be worn as a pendant to provide spiritual protection. In visualisation practices associated with the teaching and learning of Buddhist principles, the viswa vajra may be imagined by the practitioner to assist with stabilising the mind, creating a receptive state in which ignorance is dispelled and wisdom is encouraged, thereby increasing spiritual power.
References and Further Reading
Beer, Robert 2003 The Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols. Serindia Publications, Inc.
Chinese Buddhist Encyclopedia. Visvavajra. Accessed 9 May 2017
Wikipedia. Vajra. Accessed 9 May 2017
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About Us
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The Kashgar Philosophy
Kashgar began through a love of travel.
In 1989 my father Bernard packed in his house painting business and set off for two years on a backpacking trek to the remotest corners of the world. When he finally arrived in the oasis city of Kashgar, China, he was so impressed with its history that he decided to start a new life collecting and selling exotic goods from all over the world. For 2000 years the legendary city of Kashgar was a melting pot of ideas and a key trading post on the historic Silk Road. It was this unique combination of philosophy and trade that my father wanted to recreate at home.
Starting in markets in 1991, he opened his first store in the Sydney suburb of Newtown in 1994. I gave up my own career as a government scientist to join him in 2000 and soon convinced my partner Ian to join us in what was to become the Family Business.
Today our version of Kashgar stocks a hugely diverse range of furniture, rugs, textiles, antiques, handicrafts and jewellery sourced from over twenty different countries including India, Nepal, Tibet, China, Thailand, Burma, Laos, the Philippines, Vietnam, Mexico, Peru, Turkey, Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Our collection includes contemporary and tribal silver and gold jewellery, a unique range of headhunting curios, antique Buddhist relics and a collection of one-off necklaces, earrings and bracelets that I design and create myself using the beads and jewellery making techniques of ethnic minorities from around the globe.
Kashgar is a philosophy as well as a store. We are committed to supporting traditional artisans and small village communities by selling authentic handcrafted goods which are personally collected by us. By supporting traditional methods of design and production we hope to encourage local cottage industries which have a low impact on the environment and help ethnic minorities maintain their self-sufficiency into the 21st Century. We are particularly committed to assisting women around the world and to this end have worked with several organisations including the Hua Bin Women's Union of Vietnam, the East Timorese Women's Association and Tikondane in Zambia. Time honoured means of craftsmanship and traditional ways of life are disappearing as people all over the world give up their identity in favour of jeans and T-shirts. We see our trade as a means of staving off the inevitable encroachment of the 21st century, assisting communities to decide for themselves which parts of the western world they wish to incorporate (medicine, education) and which they wish to reject (prostitution, drug production, begging and servitude to warlords). We encourage our customers to think of the handicrafts and artifacts they buy from us as an investment: a piece of history and a way of life that may soon be gone forever.
Kashgar has recently closed its retail outlet and gone completely online.
In the past our pieces appeared in many movies including The Hobbit, Mission Impossible 2, Queen of the Damned, Scooby Doo, Moulin Rouge and Wolverine, and in many televisions series, as well as in plays, commercials and exhibitions. We've found special pieces for individual customers as well as for film sets, event management companies, hotels, businesses, consulates and embassies. The uniqueness of our stock means that we are also very appealing to interior and fashion designers with a taste for the exotic.
There is something for everyone at Kashgar - collectors, the curious, those looking for a special present or for something unique to adorn the home. Most of our items are one-off specialties; other pieces we only stock in small quantities so as to continuously offer a wide and ever-changing range of interesting products. We are also packed with ideas for decorating home and work premises that will challenge your established concepts of design and storage.
Please enjoy - Linda Heaphy
