The Ritual Dagger with the triple-bladed dagger, nail, or spike known as ‘Kila’ in Sanskrit and ‘Phurpa’ in Tibetan Buddhism, originated from Vedic India as the stake or post to which domestic animals, or those intended for ritual sacrifice, were tethered. It is believed that from its early Nyingma origins, the practice of Vajrakilyaya as a yidam deity with the power to cut through any obstructions was absorbed into all schools of Tibetan Buddhism. As the ultimate weapon that cuts through hatred and stabs demonic obstructions, the phurba realizes its most symbolic form as the representation of Vajrakailaya, with three heads, six arms, and his lower body forming the blazing triple-sided blade of a pointed dagger.
As a hand-held weapon, the phurba more commonly takes the form of an eight-sided shaft surmounted by a knot and three wrathful deity faces, with a lower knot, Makara-head, naga tails, and triple-sided blade forming the lower extremity. Determining the material of a phurba can also specify its purpose metal phurbas are mainly used for destructive or wrathful activities.
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