Phurba & protective ritual objects
Meaning
A phurba (kila) is a three-edged ritual dagger with a wrathful deity (Vajrakilaya) on the handle. It pins down and transforms obstacles, demons and negative forces, and the three blades cut the three poisons of ignorance, attachment and aversion.
Intent
In ritual, the phurba stabs effigies of demons and fixes the ritual space. Small phurbas were worn or kept as protective amulets against evil spirits.
Significance
The phurba is one of the most important objects of Tibetan tantric ritual and of the Nyingma school, whose founder Padmasambhava used it to subdue Tibet's demons.
History
The kila goes back to Vedic ritual stakes in India and entered Tibetan practice with Padmasambhava in the 8th century. Surviving examples date from the 12th century onward.
Making yours
Miniatures are 5–10 cm cast bronze. A three-edged blade rises from a makara mouth, with a knot and vajra handle and a head of three wrathful faces.Tibet & the Himalaya: the tradition
Tibetan protection is inseparable from Vajrayana Buddhism: blessed images, printed mantras, pills made from relics and consecrated substances, and the ga'u box to carry them. Pre-Buddhist Bön beliefs survive in dzi beads and thokcha 'sky iron'. Protective printed charts (srung-'khor) and phurba daggers repel obstacles. Many amulets were made or blessed by famous lamas, and their value depends on the lineage of the blessing as much as the material.
Ritual Dagger (Phurba) and Standlate 14th–early 15th century
Ritual Dagger (Phurpa)17 th century date QS:P571,+1650-00-00T00:00:00Z/7
Ritual Dagger16 th century date QS:P571,+1550-00-00T00:00:00Z/7
Ritual Axe (image 1 of 2)17th century or earlier
Ritual Dagger (Phurpa)15 th century date QS:P571,+1450-00-00T00:00:00Z/7
Ritual Dagger (Phurpa)16 th century date QS:P571,+1550-00-00T00:00:00Z/7
Phurbu-cum-chopper15 th century date QS:P571,+1450-00-00T00:00:00Z/7
Ritual Axe (image 2 of 2)17th century or earlier
Ritual Dagger17th century or earlier
Ritual Dagger (Phurpa)17 th century date QS:P571,+1650-00-00T00:00:00Z/7
Ritual Dagger16 th century date QS:P571,+1550-00-00T00:00:00Z/7
Dorje Dudjom
Kīla (phur-ba), Ming dynasty 1506-1522 - AMNH
Padmasambhava as Guru Dragmar:
Phurbu
Hermitage hall 365
Dorje Dudjom (cropped)
Musée Salies - Collection Tibet
Dorje Drolo
Phurba with dorje (Tibetan Buddhist ritual dagger with a thunderbolt handle from Tibet) - Europeana.eu-91616-arme object AM090574
Tibetanischer PhurbaMore from Tibet & the Himalaya: Dzi beads · Thokcha (sky-iron)
Every type in the gallery
Anything in the gallery can be made, by hand, in the prescribed metal or yours and, where the tradition names an hour, at that hour or with a plain note that it was not. Numbered. Price on commission, quoted first. I reply within one business day.