Danda is a cylindrical shaft. It represents authority, punishment or death.

Danda is also called as Talaikkol which represents a victorious monarch, having claimed the throne of his foe and taken possession of his property. The staff is then seized, gold bands are fixed at the joints, and the whole is ornamented with precious stones.

Talaikkol is honoured by dance exponents as the representation of Jayanta, the son of Indra.

Further types of danda can be seen as Sengol etc.

In the hands of Lord Ganesha,  it is a sign of authority. It is a warning to people not to threaten the ways of dharma and it controls those who have even the thought of doing so.

In the hands of the god Yama, it is a sign of punishment or death as Yama is Dharmaraja.