Category: Ritual Objects | Tradition: Vajrayana Buddhism and Bön | Origin: Nepal, India, and Tibet
A phurba is a ritual dagger with a three-sided blade, and making one is slow, skilled work. The metal parts are cast or forged, the figures and ornament are carved and finished by hand, and the pieces are joined, gilded and set with stones before a final check. A wooden phurba follows a different path, from carving to painting. This guide walks through how a phurba is made, from the choice of materials to the finished piece, and explains the main stages such as casting, shaping the blade, carving, gilding and stone setting. It describes the traditional approach of Himalayan artisans at craft level only. Exact methods vary between workshops, materials and designs, and the ritual side of a phurba, including any consecration, belongs to a teacher and a lineage, not to the workshop.
The Tradition of Himalayan Metalwork
Nepal, and the Kathmandu Valley in particular, has been known for centuries for metalwork and sacred art, and the making of ritual objects such as the phurba is part of that tradition. The craft is passed from one generation of artisans to the next, and the work is often divided among specialists: a caster, a metal-forging artisan, a carver and chaser, a gilder and a stone setter. A single phurba may pass through several pairs of hands, and its quality depends on how well each stage is done. The form itself is set by tradition, so the maker follows an established pattern for the deity faces, the vajra, the knot and the three-sided blade, and does not invent them.
Step 1: Planning the Design and Choosing Materials
Making a phurba begins with a plan. The maker decides on the form, whether it is a metal phurba, a wooden one, or a mixed piece with an iron blade and a brass or copper top and handle, and chooses the size and the decoration. The materials follow from this: iron for the blade, brass, bronze or copper for the handle and top ornament, sandalwood or another hardwood for a wooden phurba, and any gilding or inlays. The deity faces, the vajra motifs and the lotus ornament are drawn from established iconography, which the artisan learns through training and from older examples. The details of the design are agreed before any metal is poured or any wood is cut.
Step 2: Making the Top and Handle
In Nepal, the top ornament and the handle of a metal phurba are usually made by lost-wax casting, the method long used by the metalworkers of Patan for statues and ritual objects. The form is first modeled in wax, with the faces, the half vajra, the lotus petals, the bands and the knot. The wax is covered in clay, which is then heated so that the wax melts and runs out, leaving a hollow mold. The metal is melted in a crucible and poured into the cavity left by the wax. Once it has set and cooled, the clay shell is cracked open and the rough casting is lifted out. Because the mold is broken each time, every cast piece is unique. Some makers hammer or carve parts of the handle from sheet or solid metal instead, depending on the design.
Step 3: Forming the Blade
The three-sided blade is traditionally made of iron. The artisan heats the iron until it is workable, then beats it by hand on an anvil, drawing it out into a long, tapering shape with three flat faces. Between rounds of hammering, the faces are measured by eye and the blade is sighted along its length to keep it true. The blade is then dressed with files and abrasives to bring the three faces to a clean, regular finish. Some phurbas have blades of brass or another metal, which are cast or shaped in a similar way. The blade of a phurba is a ritual form and a symbol, and it is not made as a working weapon. Iron can rust, so the finished blade is kept dry and sometimes given a protective surface treatment.
Step 4: Cleaning, Carving and Chasing the Castings
The rough castings are then worked by hand. The artisan removes the channels and flaws left by the pour, files and smooths the surfaces and cuts away the excess. Then comes the detailed work with small chisels and punches, called chasing and engraving. The faces of the deity, the hair, the crown, the lotus petals, the vajra and the rope-like knot are defined and refined, and fine patterns are added to the bands of the handle. This is the stage that gives a phurba its character, and it takes patience, since each line is cut by hand and cannot be undone.
Step 5: Joining the Parts
Once the top, the handle and the blade are finished, they are joined into one piece. The blade is fitted into the lower end of the handle and secured so that the three parts form a single, firm object with no loose or wobbling parts. Different workshops use different joining methods depending on the design and the metals, and a mixed-metal phurba needs a join that is strong and neat. The maker checks that the axis is straight, that the proportions are balanced and that the join sits cleanly and does not shift.
Step 6: Gilding and Finishing the Surface
Many phurbas are gilded on the top ornament and on selected parts of the handle, to give a golden surface that brings out the detail. Traditional gilding is skilled work done by experienced craftspeople, and some workshops now use modern plating methods. Other parts are polished, or left darker, to give contrast between the gold, the bright metal and the recessed details. The blade is usually kept dark. The surface is finished by hand, and a light patina or a restrained finish is often preferred to a glossy one. The aim is to make the carving easy to read, not to hide it.
Step 7: Setting Stones and Final Details
Where the design calls for it, small stones such as coral and turquoise are set into the handle or the top ornament. Each stone is placed in a small setting cut for it and secured so that it does not loosen with handling. If imitation stones are used, the honest course is to say so. Last, the artisan checks the fine details of the ornament and removes any rough edges or burrs.
Step 8: Final Inspection
At the end, the finished phurba is inspected. The maker checks the straightness of the blade and the evenness of its three faces, the security of the joins and the stones, the finish of the gilding and the clarity of the carving. The piece is looked over for rough edges, loose parts and marks. A phurba that passes is cleaned and made ready to be sent out. This final look is one reason handmade pieces are valued, since each one has been checked by people who know the craft.
Making a Wooden Phurba
A wooden phurba is made in a different way. The carver chooses a well-seasoned hardwood, such as sandalwood, acacia or rosewood, and cuts the rough form of the whole phurba from a single piece. The three-sided blade, the handle, the knot and the deity faces are then carved with chisels and gouges. The surface is sanded smooth. Many wooden phurbas are painted by hand in red, black and gold, with deity designs, and some have a serpent carved around the blade. A protective finish is applied at the end. Wood is lighter than metal and more sensitive to moisture, so careful seasoning of the wood and a good finish matter.
Why Every Handcrafted Phurba Is Different
Because the casting, carving and finishing are done by hand, no two phurbas are exactly alike. Small differences in the faces, the depth of the carving, the gilding and the proportions are natural, and they are signs of handwork and not flaws. A machine-made piece can look perfectly uniform, but a handcrafted phurba carries the character of the maker and the materials. This is why each phurba is described on its own product page.
How Our Phurbas Are Made
Our phurbas are made by artisans in Nepal in the traditional way described above, with casting, carving, finishing and, where the design calls for it, gilding and stone setting done by hand. Because the work is handmade, sizes and finishes vary, so each product page lists the materials and the details of that piece.
Our phurbas are not consecrated. Consecration is a religious act, and it is best left to a teacher or a lineage holder. If you plan to use a phurba in practice, ask your teacher about the form and the consecration that are appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a phurba made by hand?
Traditional phurbas are cast, forged, carved, chased, gilded and set by hand, although some stages may use simple tools or machines. The careful work of carving, finishing and checking is done by skilled artisans.
How is the metal part of a phurba cast?
The top and the handle are usually made by lost-wax casting. A wax model is covered in clay and heated so that the wax runs out, and molten metal is poured into the hollow mold. The mold is then broken to release the casting.
What is the blade made of?
The blade is traditionally iron, shaped by a skilled artisan into its three-sided form. Some phurbas have blades of brass or another metal.
How is a wooden phurba made?
A wooden phurba is carved from seasoned hardwood such as sandalwood, sanded smooth and usually painted by hand, with a protective finish at the end.
Is the phurba blade sharp?
The blade is a ritual form and a symbol, and a phurba is not a weapon. It should always be handled with care, and kept out of the reach of children and pets.
Are your phurbas consecrated?
No. Our phurbas are not consecrated when they are made. Many people prefer to ask their own teacher about consecration.
How long does it take to make a phurba?
It depends on the material, the size and the detail. Casting, carving, gilding and stone setting each take time, and the work is done in stages by different specialists.
Explore Our Phurbas
Read more: What Is a Phurba? | What Is a Phurba Made Of?