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Although ritual daggers can vary in their form, the handle and the blade are said to combine transcendent wisdom and skillful means, respectively. The triple blades arranged around the central axis of the dagger symbolize mastery over the three realms of desire, form, and formlessness.
Frightening imagery such as the fang-bearing heads of wrathful Hayagriva on the dagger’s top and Garuda sinking its teeth in to the dagger’s blade, especially when amplified through tantric visualizations, are said to empower the practitioner and the blade with the essence of wrathful deities. Hindering spirits can then be nailed down and subdued, allowing a sacred space to be established.
Three-Bladed Ritual Peg (kila, purba)
OriginTibet
Dateca. 17th century
Dimensions13 × 2 × 2 in. (estimated)
MediumIron and gilt brass
Classification(s)
Credit LineRubin Museum of Art
Object numberC2005.16.66
Himalayan Art Resources Number65489
DescriptionThis exquisitely crafted three-sided ritual dagger (Tibetan: phur ba; Sanskrit: kila) was never used in battle, but was still an effective weapon in esoteric meditation and ritual practices. In connection with visualization techniques, it has the power to pin down and annihilate negative energies, hindrances, evil forces, and, ultimately, all forms of attachment to one’s ego. Although ritual daggers can vary in their form, the handle and the blade are said to combine transcendent wisdom and skillful means, respectively. The triple blades arranged around the central axis of the dagger symbolize mastery over the three realms of desire, form, and formlessness.
Frightening imagery such as the fang-bearing heads of wrathful Hayagriva on the dagger’s top and Garuda sinking its teeth in to the dagger’s blade, especially when amplified through tantric visualizations, are said to empower the practitioner and the blade with the essence of wrathful deities. Hindering spirits can then be nailed down and subdued, allowing a sacred space to be established.
On view
17th century
17th century
ca. 9th century
14th century
ca. 16th century
15th century
18th or 19th century
19th century
Mid-19th century
13th century