The term vajra is a Sanskrit word that is usually defined as "diamond" or "thunderbolt." It also defines a kind of battle club that achieved its name through its reputation for hardness and invincibility. The vajra has special significance in Tibetan Buddhism, and the word is adopted as a label for the Vajrayana branch of Buddhism, one of the three major forms of Buddhism.

术语金刚是一个梵语词，通常被定义为“钻石”或“霹雳”。它还定义了一种战斗俱乐部，它因其坚硬和无敌的声誉而得名。金刚杵在藏传佛教中具有特殊的意义，被用作佛教三大宗派之一的金刚乘的代名词。