History

One of the earliest texts to describe this martial art was the Buddharata Sutra written in the 5th century.

The forms of wrestling and striking described in the Manasollasa of Somesvara III (ruled 1126-1138) and associated with the Jyesthi caste in the Malla Purana have been identified with Vajra Mushti by Donn Draeger and Robert Smith.

Translation

"Mushti" literally means "closed hand" or "fist", while the vajra is a religious symbol in both Hinduism and Buddhism translated variously as "thunderbolt" and "diamond". Vajra Mushti could therefore be translated as "Thunderbolt Fist" or "Diamond Fist".

Simhanada Vajramushti is the 'Lions Roar!' variant of Vajra-Mushti(Mukti). This is supposedly the martial art of the historical Buddha's blood-line family, and, also became known as 'Indra's Fist' (after the Thunder and Sky God Indra). It is still called Indra's Fist in China, where it is also called Tibetan Lion's Roar, after the Indian Vajra-Mushti Martial Art, travelled firstly to Tibet, and thence to China.