Phurba- The Tibetan Ritual Dagger
Article by Sylvia Smelcer
The Tibetan Buddhist ritual dagger is called the phurba or phurpa in Tibetan Buddhism, and in Sanskrit it is called the kila or the kilaya. The phurba is used in ceremonies, and it is also known as the magic dagger. The first syllable in phurba, 'Phur' is translated from the Sanskrit 'kila' meaning peg or nail. Padmasambhava is generally assumed to be the inventor of the phurba. Padmasambhava first used the phurpa to consecrate the ground when he established the Samye monastery in the 8th century. The tent is an important part of life in Tibet, because for so long the Tibetan people were nomadic. In Tibetan culture, placing the tent pegs into the ground is seen as sacrificing the ground. The shape of the phurba might have possibly come from shape of the stake used to hold down tents. The three-sided style of the phurba could have also come from an ancient vedic tool used to pin down sacrifices. The phurba has three segments on its blade. The three segments represent three energies. These energies are known as the 'three poisons.' The three poisons are attachment, ignorance, and aversion or fear. The three sides of the phurba also represent the three spirit worlds, and the phurba itself represents the axis of these three spirit worlds. The center of the phurba brings the three spirit worlds together. The phurba's blade represents 'method' and the handle represents 'wisdom'. There are usually designs or carvings on the top of phurbas. Buddha heads and skulls are both popular designs. Sometimes the Buddha heads come in threes to mirror the blade. Ganesh is also popular as decoration on the top of phurbas. The phurba is a symbol of stability, and is used during ceremonies. The phurba is often used by Tantric practitioners. Only those who are taught to use the phurpa should use it in this type of Tibetan Buddhist ritual. The phurba can be used to tether negative energies during ceremonies. The blade on a phurba is never sharp, because it is only to be used as a ritual dagger, never as a weapon. The p! hurba is often stuck in a bowl of rice or other types of grains during Tibetan Buddhist rituals. Phurpas can be made from wood, bone, copper, or brass. If more than one metal is used to make a phurba, it is done in a combination of three metals or of nine metals. The numbers three and nine are both important numbers in Tibetan Buddhist rituals. The number three refers to the three worlds or the three realms of existence, the desire realm, the form realm, and the formless realm. The number nine is significant in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, who believe the tantras are nine stages on the spiritual path. The phurba is also used by Dorje Phurba a.k.a. Vajrakilaya, the wrathful form of Vajrapani (one of the wrathful deities). Vajrakilaya is often seen holding the phurba in Buddhist statues. Vajrakilaya is a wrathful deity and a remover of obstacles. Phurbas can also be used as decoration in temples, meditation rooms, or as decoration in homes. To use the phurba in Buddhist ceremonies, practitioners first meditate, then they recite the sadhana of the phurba, and then they invite the deity to enter the phurba. They then stab the phurba into the ground, or into a bowl of rice or grain, imagining the evil spirits or negative energies are caught beneath the phurba dagger's blade.
About the AuthorSylvia Smelcer is the owner of Hinky Imports, Singing Bowl Shop, Om Tibetan Jewelry, and Bodhi Seed Prayer Beads and enjoys teaching yoga and learning about Tibetan Buddhism.
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