The ankh or key of life is an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol that was most commonly used in writing and in Egyptian art to represent the word for "life" and, by extension, as a symbol of life itself.

The ankh has a cross shape but with a teardrop-shaped loop in place of an upper bar. The origins of the symbol are not known, although many hypotheses have been proposed. It was used in writing as a triliteral sign, representing a sequence of three consonants, ?-n-?. This sequence was found in several Egyptian words, including the words meaning "mirror", "floral bouquet", and "life".

In art the symbol often appeared as a physical object representing either life or substances such as air or water that are related to it. It was especially commonly held in the hands of ancient Egyptian deities, or being given by them to the pharaoh, to represent their power to sustain life and to revive human souls in the afterlife.

The ankh was one of the most common decorative motifs in ancient Egypt and was also used decoratively by neighbouring cultures.

A vajra is a ritual tool symbolizing the properties of a diamond (indestructibility) and a thunderbolt (irresistible force).

The vajra is the weapon of the Indian Vedic rain and thunder-deity Indra, and is used symbolically by the various to represent firmness of spirit and spiritual power.

According to the Indian mythology, vajra is considered one of the most powerful tools in the universe. The use of the vajra as a symbolic and ritual tool spread from the Hindu to other parts of Asia.