Phurba ritual dagger

Tibet, 19th century

Iron and coloured metals. The dagger features a three-headed Vajrakilaya (Tibetan Dorje Phurba) terminal; at the centre is a mystical animal called a makara (Tibetan chu-srin).

L: 26 cm

O 1298

Gift of Vladimír Piskáček, 1999.

A phurba (Tibetan) or kila (Sanskrit) is a ritual dagger with a tripartite blade and a sculpted decorative hilt terminating in three heads of ferocious protector-deities – chökyong (Tibetan) or dharmapala (Sanskrit). It is used in Tantric ceremonies to ward off malicious powers or to demarcate a sacred space.