Tibetan
Phurba
/PUR-bah/
The phurba, far more than a mere ritual dagger, is a profound symbol in Tibetan Buddhism embodying the fierce, unwavering resolve to sever ignorance and negative forces. Its three-sided blade represents the cutting through of the three root poisons: desire, hatred, and delusion, transforming them into wisdom. It's a spiritual instrument wielded not for physical harm, but to symbolically pin down and subjugate obstacles on the path to enlightenment, thereby protecting the practitioner's mind and clearing the way for spiritual transformation.
Lit. Ritual dagger or peg
Used in Vajrayana Buddhist rituals, meditations, and tantric practices, often depicted in iconography.