▲ 44 ▼ Ritual dagger, Tibet, 17th century AD Early Modern (1600 AD-1800 AD) (media.piefed.social) submitted 4 months ago by PugJesus@piefed.social to c/historyartifacts@piefed.social 5 comments fedilink hide all child comments
[–] Beryl@jlai.lu 3 points 4 months ago Everything is a dagger if you're brave enough permalink fedilink source
[+] weta@kolektiva.social 3 points 4 months ago (1 child) [deleted] permalink fedilink source hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] PugJesus@piefed.social [S] 3 points 4 months ago The only info I have is what was posted with the source link. The Tibetan ritual dagger (phurpa or Sanskrit: kila) is a three-sided peg-like implement that is used in diverse rites ranging from exorcism to meditation to blessings. Its primary association is with the Vajrayana meditational deity Dorje Phurpa (also known as Vajrakilaya, see M.70.1.6). Phurpas are distinguished by various terminals, often multi-headed deities. In this bone example from Eastern Tibet (?), the terminal is a polished slab of carnelian set in silver. Carnelian is purportedly used as a symbolic substitute for a thunderbolt (vajra). The upper section is adorned with the three wrathful heads of Dorje Phurpa, who is the personification of the phurpa. The middle section, used as the hilt, has two symmetrical segments of grinning skulls, trefoil motifs, and lotus petals. The tip is decorated with mythical aquatic animals (makaras) and entwined serpent coils. Beneath the junction of the middle section and the tip, the symbolic syllable hum is inscribed. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] PugJesus@piefed.social [S] 3 points 4 months ago The only info I have is what was posted with the source link. The Tibetan ritual dagger (phurpa or Sanskrit: kila) is a three-sided peg-like implement that is used in diverse rites ranging from exorcism to meditation to blessings. Its primary association is with the Vajrayana meditational deity Dorje Phurpa (also known as Vajrakilaya, see M.70.1.6). Phurpas are distinguished by various terminals, often multi-headed deities. In this bone example from Eastern Tibet (?), the terminal is a polished slab of carnelian set in silver. Carnelian is purportedly used as a symbolic substitute for a thunderbolt (vajra). The upper section is adorned with the three wrathful heads of Dorje Phurpa, who is the personification of the phurpa. The middle section, used as the hilt, has two symmetrical segments of grinning skulls, trefoil motifs, and lotus petals. The tip is decorated with mythical aquatic animals (makaras) and entwined serpent coils. Beneath the junction of the middle section and the tip, the symbolic syllable hum is inscribed. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] PugJesus@piefed.social [S] 1 point 4 months ago https://collections.lacma.org/object/39887 permalink fedilink source
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