Three-faced Metal Phurba Pendant

The ritual dagger (Sanskrit: kila; Tibetan: phurba) is associated with the practice of the meditational deity, Vajrakilaya. Phurba is essential to the dispelling and neutralizing of the evil forces that impede Tantric Buddhist practice.

Phurba is a balanced implement. The upper handle, with its vastly significant symbolism, is considered a blessing and peaceful tool. The lower blade is used to cut all delusions, a wrathful practice. The upper handle of the Phurba is said to represent wisdom while its lower blade is said to represent method or “skillful means”.

Internally, it is used as a meditation object, to cut through the three poisons, Attachment, Ignorance, and Aversion, and all delusion. Externally, the wielder of this dagger would use the tantric energies to subdue evil spirits and transforming negative energies into positive energies. The three segments of the blade represent the power of the dagger in this transformation. The Phurba, though, is not meant to be used on sentient living beings.