Exorcising Dagger
19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is a ritual dagger or 'phurba'. It used in Tibet for the protection of sacred areas and the controlling or destruction of negative spiritual forces. The power in such a dagger is believed to arise from the presence within it of a deity with which the monk or practitioner unifies himself.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Cast brass |
| Brief description | Exorcising dagger with a blade issuing from the mouth of a makara, Tibet, 19th century |
| Physical description | A ritual dagger with a blade issuing from the mouth of a makara, along two surfaces of the blade snakes extend. The body of the dagger is formed from a vajra with three wrathful heads of the Dharmapala or Protector of Religion, Hayagriva at the top. The symbol of Hayagriva, a horses head, crowns the heads. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Mrs Dora Creagh |
| Object history | Collected by Captain Aubrey Osborne Creagh, 120th Rajputana Infantry at Gyantse while commanding the British Trade Agents escort 1909-1911. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is a ritual dagger or 'phurba'. It used in Tibet for the protection of sacred areas and the controlling or destruction of negative spiritual forces. The power in such a dagger is believed to arise from the presence within it of a deity with which the monk or practitioner unifies himself. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.255-1916 |
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| Record created | December 14, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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