Salam,
Ya, I agree with the ritual uses, and plus also found some more information to throw into the melting pot…
I think the 3 birds are peacocks, the national bird of India.
Symbolically the peacock features on many betel nut related items and cutters.
Although, the betel vine doesn’t grow any nuts! Usually the preparation consists of the nut from the areca palm (along with varied other herbs/spices to taste) and is wrapped in the leaf of the betel vine.
Chewing the mixture as a custom or ritual dates back thousands of years in many Asian countries. Sometimes betel nut street sellers would jingle the bells on their cutters to entice customers to their stands to sample their goods.
Some marriage rituals appear to bring these items together also. The groom often goes to the house of the bride carrying an ornate betel nut cutter or knife. During the ‘nischay tamulam’, the bride’s father is offered betel nuts and leaves and during the garlanding ceremony a fan of peacock feathers is used to cover the brides face, whilst the priest chants hymns.
The other 2 creatures do look like serpents. I have also seen them described as dragons, tigers, lions and crocodiles!
Out of interest I found some other related unusual knife/cutters.
The first images below perhaps take on the appearance of a crocodile shape, once the knife is opened... i.e. the blade forms the head/mouth with the sharp edge its teeth, the 2 brass pivoting points the eyes, and remaining parts of the handles the stream-line body… The next images are of another folding knife and the shaping of the brass handles look to take on the appearance of peacocks…
I would like to know more on the talismanic “X” and “(“ equation marks, and found nothing to date…
