Page 16 - Bonhams IMages of Devotion, Hong Kong Nov 30 2022

1004
A BRASS ALLOY AND IRON PURBHA
TIBET, CIRCA 13TH CENTURY
Himalayan Art Resources item no. 4713
31.4 cm (12 3/8 in.) long
HKD300,000 - 400,000

西藏 約十三世紀 銅質鐵刃普巴杵

The three-pronged ritual dagger, or phurba carries origins from Vedic India of
ritual animal sacrifices and associations to the creation myth of the god Indra.
The spread of tantric Buddhism in Tibet during the 8th century carried along
with it both in legend and ritual practices, the use of this implement to subdue
evil spirits and negative forces, as Padmasambhava is said to have done in
requesting teachings on Vajrakila. Used for spirit subduing rituals often associated
with Vajrakila, the dagger with its three faces and triple-sided blade is meant to
represent deity, whose lower body mimics that of the implement itself.

Phurbas such as these were fashioned for ritual rites and were often heavily
ornamented to signify the ceremonial significance of these practices. The triple
blade as seen here issues from the mouth of a makara who bears an effigy of a
warrior deity, a rare detail, and one associated with the skillful means necessary
for these earth subjugating rituals. Above the makara mouth is a woven knot
depicting four faces which supports a vajra and is surmounted by a four-sided
depiction of deities in warrior posture. Crowning the phurba is the three-faced
deity who holds in the crown above an effigy of a seated deity, in a finale meant to
infer the spiritual achievement and liberation from negative forces.

Features of the main faces are consistent with the works around the 13th century.
Three main faces at the top are meticulously rendered with vivid muscles. The
high and plump chignon, the large eyes, heavy eyelids, arched eyebrows, wide
and creased noses, and the snarling mouth are commonly seen on deities of this
period, such as a standing deity from Rubin Museum of Art (HAR 65175) and the
Vajrapani figure from Zimmerman collection (von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures
in Tibet, Vol. II, p. 422, no. 109B). Due to prolonged ritual handling, the surface
now displays a warm copper patina.

Compare this with two other phurbas sold at Bonhams, New York, 19 March
2019, lot 911 & 912.

Published
T. Marcotty, “Phurpa - Magic dagger ritual from Tibet Fabri Verlag”, 1997, pp. 3 &
62.
Amy Heller and Thomas Marcotty, “Phur-ba—Tibetan Ritual Daggers”, Arts of
Asia, July - August 1987, pp. 69-77.
T. Marcotty, “Dagger blessing, treasure texts of the Tibetan phurba cult”, Lugano,
1986, pp. 6 & 62.

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