Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - The Spiritual Daggers of the High Himalayas : Phurba and Kartrika .

Battara · 8th December 2004, 08:03 AM

the kartika is a ceremonial weapon used in some rituals to cut the bonds of ignorance, in other rituals to chop up demons. It is used in conjuction with the kapala (actually made of a person's top half of the skull!

). I will upload pictures of the one I have in a day or so.

Another note: the phurba in some ceremonies is used to pin down the demon or evil spirit so the lama can have more control. Sometimes you will see a horse head on top. It is the form of a deity that frightens demons (the name escapes me at present).

8th December 2004, 08:03 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,342	the kartika is a ceremonial weapon used in some rituals to cut the bonds of ignorance, in other rituals to chop up demons. It is used in conjuction with the kapala (actually made of a person's top half of the skull! ). I will upload pictures of the one I have in a day or so. Another note: the phurba in some ceremonies is used to pin down the demon or evil spirit so the lama can have more control. Sometimes you will see a horse head on top. It is the form of a deity that frightens demons (the name escapes me at present).