n Under the popular museum series ‘Exhibit of the Month’ of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, a traditional object is displayed in the appearance for a whole month. The exhibit for the month of February 2024 Phurba – A Ritual Implement is on display in the indoor exhibition building–Veethi Sankul.This object has been composed by Assistant keeper Rashmi shukla. About the exhibit displayed in the exhibition, Rashmi shukla said that the Phurba, also spelled Phurbha or Phurpa. 'Phur' is the Tibetan translation of the Sanskrit word keel, meaning peg or nail.
It is a ritual implement made up of bronze in the shape of a pointed dagger with beveled edges on three sides, deeply rooted in the Tantric and Bon traditions of the Vajrayana sect of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. Its inventor is Guru Padmasambhava and it is associated with the spiritual deity 'Vajrakilaya' (Dorje Phurba) which symbolizes transformative power. It has a design of three divine faces on its upper end which is used by shamans for blessings and in the middle there is a Vajra shaped handle and on the lower end there is a triangular blade like structure which completely eliminate ignorance, greed and hatred which are the three obstacles in the path of spirituality and gives control over the three periods of time – present, past and future and it does maintain stability and energetic continuity.
Phurba is used to establish stability in the prayer space during ceremonies, as well as in various cultural contexts, such as exorcism, to cure illness, control of weather such as heavy rains, hailstorms, Tantra Sadhana and paving the way for rebirth by freeing wandering souls. It is widely practiced by exorcists, magicians, shamans, and lamas for purposes such as meditation and blessings. The association of the implement with Vajrakilaya represents the transformation of negative energies into positive energies. Its energy is fiery and connects the fundamental processes of the sky with the earth, thereby establishing an energetic continuity. Phurba is Usually made of brass and meteorite but other materials such as metal, wood, bone, horn, or crystal are also used.
