The Spiritual Daggers of the High Himalayas : Phurba and Kartrika .

[Radu Transylvanicus]

This is a set from 17th century eastearn Tibet, Kham region made of only gilt bronze and pure rock crystal blades, belonging to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. They are between eight and nine inches length (twenty to twenty three centimeters long). It is composed of the chopper (kartrika), the stake-dagger (phurba) and the phurba-vajra-khartika halberd combination (parashu). Enjoy:

[ruel]

Radu:
I am striving to find the ceremonial exact use of this daggers and to what percentage were they spiritual, symbolic or utilitarian.

The original of the purbha in Sanskrit originally referred to tent pegs, and there is no evidence of them being used as weapons in India. In Tibet they're used in exorcism, where a doll containing an evil spirit is stabbed by a purbha to cure illness or possession.

I could cite sources, but why? That would require more work than I care to do.

[Battara]

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).

[wilked aka Khun Deng]

Thanks Radu for this thread I had wondered what these were. I will reiterate your point on the fakes, the markets in Thailand were flooded, and I mean flooded with these pieces. Some shops had nothing but "genuine Nepalese crafts". I saw foriegners buying these up by the dozen and what would someone do with that many of the same thing - sell it on ebay. Thanks again.

[spiral]

Great thread Radu!

Heres a small iron phurba & an old Tamang shamans drum out of my Nepalese collection. {Also a photo of a Tamang Shaman with a similar drum.}

The handle of the drum is like a large phurba with the same faces, makara ,snakes , thunderbolts etc.

I understand phurbas take something of the spirits they have pinned into themselves, & become entitys in thier own right.

Spiral

[Battara]

Oh you're not kidding about the fakes. My first rip off (and only so far) in weaponry collecting was buying a fake for $200. My fault for not doing enough of my research. Resold it for $75 (the real value I found out). Now I have a better piece, but it took lots of research and scrutinizing the true work. Will post it soon (I promise).

[Battara]

As promised, here are some pictures of my kartika (just found them in our move to the new house ). It is made of bronze with gilding to parts and has an iron blade (unsharpened). A heavy piece:

[BSMStar]

Originally Posted by spiral

Heres a small iron phurba & an old Tamang shamans drum out of my Nepalese collection.

The handle of the drum is like a large phurba with the same faces, makara ,snakes , thunderbolts etc.

I understand phurbas take something of the spirits they have pinned into themselves, & become entitys in thier own right.

Spiral

Aren't they used to "block" or repeal (bad) spirits as well??

[spiral]

Yes thats my understanding as well Bsmstar, & those spirits are then trapped within it.

I must say I havent studdied hindu/buddhist/shamanic theology in any great depth though, just stuff Ive heard from those who have.

It would be nice to know more.

Spiral