Metal Phurba, Himalayan Region, Circa 18th

Ritual dagger "Phurba". Ritual object with a face resembling a dagger or a nail, with shamanic traditions of the Himalayan region and Buddhism. The deity associated with the object is the Dorje Phurba. Two intertwined snakes (Nagas) are shown on the three-sided blade. The upper part shows the wrathful Dorje Phurba deity surmounted by the horse head Hayagriva. The traditional Makara head holds the blade in its mouth.