Old iron phurba pendant

Iron phurba pendant from Nepal with the depiction of a human skull on the pommel. This phurba pendant has quite some years of age to it already and, as can be seen on the pictures, the iron has a nice rustique layer of rust on it, but the overall stability and integrity of the structure has not been compromised. This phurba pendant can be worn as a personal protective amulet or for that reason be attached to your ritual attributes or clothing, but can also be used as a fully-functional ritual weapon in handy travel size; easy to put in your travel-kit or attach to your shamanic 'multi-tool'. Size; approximately 5,6 centimeters long, measured including the eyelet. Weight; approximately 24 grams. Design characteristics: In this pendant, the phurba has a pommel depicting a human skull, a symbol very prominent in the regions influenced by Tibetan Buddhism. On the one hand it can be said that the symbol of the skull (of course) refers to death; it is a powerful reminder of the fact that all our lives will simply end one day. The symbol of the skull is thus used in all kinds of meditative practices to contemplate on this inevitabilty and also on the other side of this medal; how important it is to live your life in the best possible and most compassionate of ways. On a more metaphorical level, contemplating on the image of the skull also is a powerful practice in cutting through the bonds with one's own ego and the identification with the physical body. It takes us to the limits of human knowledge and helps to gain insight in the buddhist concept of 'Emptiness', which doesn't mean 'nothing-ness', but actually quite on the contrary refers to the true nature of the universe and reality; the endless, ultimate emptiness in which all possibilities exist. Human skulls are also very prominent in the iconography around a lot of the 'wrathful' deities in Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism. Wrathful deities are the fierce, forceful aspects or manifestations of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas or Devas. They are often portrait as terrifying, demonic looking beings adorned with human skulls or bone ornaments and ritual weapons. In this setting, the human skulls symbolize all the poisonous delusions and limiting mental beliefs that need to be overcome on the path to enlightenment. And finally, also the skull often refers to the skeleton face of a Citipati, which is part of the (especially) vajrayana Buddhist imagery. Citipati are associated with the cemeteries and charnel grounds and represent profound lessons about mortality, impermanence, the cycle of life and death, and freedom from samsara. More about the intriguing symbolism of the Citipati can be found elsewhere in our webshop (simply search on the word 'Citipati'). Read more about the general and specific design and symbolism of the phurba in the general description of the webshop-collection "Ritual Attributes; Phurba's".