The Terralex Dirk (金剛羅漢、こんごらかん、lit. Vajra Arhat), is one of four ultimate daggers found in Seiken Densetsu 3. It is the ultimate weapon of Hawkeye should he go down the Dark-Light job class path of the Thief, the Ninja Master.
Appearance[]
Description[]
The ultimate weapon of the Ninja Master. Amongst the weapons of the Ninja of Navarl, none could ever outmatch the strength and make of the Kongo Rakan. Its process of creation unknown, it is without flaw, bearing robust form and its material attaining an almost golden hue.
Etymology[]
The weapon's Japanese name is transliterated as Kongo Rakan, which means Vajra Arhat. A vajra is a religious tool found in Buddhism, said to represent the truth in two ways; an irresistibly powerful force of a lightning bolt, and the invincible durability of diamond. Arhat is the native Indian title to describe those who have achieved enlightenment in Buddhism; translated directly it means "one who is worthy of receiving obeisance" or “slayer of enemies and thieves.”
Alternately, the weapon's name may be in indirect reference to many figures, as with the themes of Ninja class weapons:
- The name may refer to the character Sha Wujing/Sa Gojo from the Chinese Buddhist classic tale Journey to the West, one of the two reformed demon guardians who accompanied Xuanzhang and The Monkey King on their quest to India, and became known as the "Golden Bodied Arhat" upon reaching enlightenment. Sha Wujing was said to be found in a river desert of quicksand, having been banished there upon mistakenly breaking a crystal goblet owned by the western goddess Xi Wangmu and was a quiet contemplative, if dry and straight ally.
- The name may refer to the Buddhist deity Vajrapani/Kongorikishi, who is said to have been the guardian and protector of the Buddha during his journeys before and after his attainment of enlightenment. In Buddhist symbolism, he is interpreted as the representative of the might of the enlightened mind bearing a vajra to emphasize his power, and he is a powerful figure related to the martial arts, demonic exorcism, and the destruction of religious hypocrisy, sanctimony, and blind dogma. Vajrapani is more popularly known as the Nio, who are the twin protectors of the Buddha, and are considered Vajrapani's manifestations embodying the absoluteness of Buddhist teachings. Later on, he would reincarnate as Mahasthamaprapta/Seishi Bosatsu, the bodhisatvva of wisdom.
- While Acala has his own named weapon in the game, he is also venerated on a greater level, being both associated with Vajrapani and his traits as an equivalent bodhisatvva and dharmapala who bears the vajra as an enlightened being, and is interpreted in some followings as being the angered side of Buddha. Acala is also associated with purification both spiritually and physically, and with the element of fire.
- Perhaps as a nod to its mystery of meaning, the name itself and without exact traits may instead refer to how one themselves must come to enlightenment and eventually walk their own paths, faithful but unreliant on the gods themselves to their own truths.
Regardless of interpretation, the name and its potential meanings further highlight Nevarl's use of ninja-Buddhism inspired codenames for their weapons in the Ninja class in Trials of Mana, and with its open ended and faceted interpretations, highlights it as the "ultimate weapon" of the Nevarl Ninja.