The Tibetan ritual dagger (phurpa or phurbu; Sanskrit: kila) is a three-sided peg-like implement that is used in diverse rites ranging from exorcism to meditation to blessings. Its primary association is with the Vajrayana meditational deity Dorje Phurpa, who is the personification of the phurpa. He is also known as Vajrakilaya (see M.70.1.6). Phurpas are distinguished by various terminals, often multi-headed deities or thunderbolts (vajra). They can be made of metal (especially meteoric iron), rock crystal, wood, bone, clay, and horn. Phurpas are typically made of three parts: a pommel, handle, and the triangular blade. The bladed end of the phurpa is used to destroy demonic powers through the killing of demons or exorcism. The pommel is used by practitioners to bless believers. See also M.79.243.3, M.82.27, M.85.286.1, and M.86.190.2.
This large wooden phurpa has an undulating serpent on each side of the triangular blade that issues out of the mouth of mythical aquatic animals (makaras). The grip of the handle is a five-pronged thunderbolt (vajra) with roll borders in the form of the knot of immutability. The pommel has three differently colored faces of Vajrakilaya, two of which are horrific.
See John C. Huntington, The Phur-Pa, Tibetan Ritual Daggers, Artibus Asiae. Supplementum 33 (1975); and Georgette Meredith, "The "Phurbu": The Use and Symbolism of the Tibetan Magic Dagger," History of Religions 6:3 (February 1967): 236-253.
