Ritual Dagger / Phurba

A ritual dagger or phurba, attached to it is a woven silk scarf with an intricate diamond pattern in red, black and white with a red striped border. The dagger has three blade edges and the shaft is decorated with a makara or mythical sea serpent with pairs of snakes or nagas protruding from its mouth, at the top of the shaft is a knotted ball on top of which is the face of Hayagriva, a Buddhist protector, who wears a crown of skulls.