The phurba (Wylie transliteration of Tibetan: ཕུར་བ) in Sanskrit called Kīla, is a Tibetan or Nepalese dagger-dagger, consisting of three blades and a handle, often decorated, used for rituals, but not for sacrifices. In the Tibetan tradition it is used to consecrate the earth, giving it stability and protection. The Phurba is often used during tantric rituals, creating a protective circle around the practitioner. It also serves to delimit and protect mandalas and sacred buildings. In general the function of the Phurba is to stab evil. It is considered a sort of "magic dagger" capable of taming and defeating the most terrible demons. The term phurba is mainly used in central Tibet, while in the regions of Kham, Amdo and Ladakh it is called phurbu. From an allegorical point of view, the phurba represents the direct methods that allow the practitioner to cut all ties and obstacles that hinder the path of inner liberation. In particular, the phurba is believed to be the symbol of those meditative techniques that help break the knots of ignorance caused by false impressions of the ego.
