Transient Axe
Unavailable $ 350.00
Ready to ship
A rare vintage find in my wanderings, a solid Sterling Silver axe pendant with delicate etched filigree on the axe head.
One of a kind, limited edition, unsigned.
The Axe as a Symbol
Beyond its practical use, the axe has carried deep symbolic meaning throughout human history. Among the earliest examples are the ceremonial boat axes of the Stone Age. Across civilizations from ancient China and the Inca Empire to Greece and Rome, the axe appeared as a sacred or cultic object, signifying power, transformation, and divine authority.
In Hindu tradition, the axe holds a profound spiritual dimension in the iconography of Ganesha, the god of wisdom and remover of obstacles. Ganesha, with his elephant head and four arms, contains the entire universe within his vast belly. In one hand, he holds the parashu, (or axe) a symbol of cutting away attachments to the material world.
It is said that to grasp the mysteries of existence the manifested form of Devi, the Divine Mother, one must first receive the blessings of Ganesha. The story of Shiva restoring Ganesha’s life and replacing his head with that of an elephant conveys a deep truth: before liberation, the Lord replaces our small, limited ego with a vast, universal one. This transformation does not make us more self-centered; rather, it dissolves identification with the individual self, awakening identification with the greater Self, the consciousness that permeates all creation.
In this state, life itself is renewed, becoming an instrument of benefit to the world. The remaining ego is merely functional a slender thread, like the one sustained by Krishna and Buddha, tying liberated consciousness to the earthly realm for the sake of others.
The parashu, Ganesha’s axe, embodies the act of severing attachment cutting away desire, illusion, and bondage to transient pleasures. Through it, Ganesha teaches the art of release: to let go of what no longer serves our higher purpose and to dwell instead in the eternal truth.
This sacred weapon is also associated with Parashurama, the warrior-sage incarnation of Vishnu. In one tale, Ganesha receives the axe from Parashurama during a divine encounter — an event in which Ganesha’s tusk is broken, symbolizing sacrifice, humility, and the transcendence of duality.
Size is 35 mm at the width of the axe, and 84 mm in length.
Materials: Sterling Silver
There are no refunds or returns for this item.
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This pendant will come beautifully gift-wrapped ready to be gifted either as a treat for yourself or another.
Jewelry for Wildlife
Every Wildthorne watercolor, artifact, or piece of jewelry directly funds the creation of solitary bee nests placed in wild and protected habitats across the Pacific Northwest. These nests offer critical refuge for native bees who face increasing habitat loss.
Your purchase supports field conservation efforts, ecological stewardship, and the regeneration of pollinator-safe lands.
subject to availability
