A phurha (sometimes transliterated phurpa or phurba) is an artifact of the Tibetan esoteric tradition. Strictly speaking it's a ritual dart, but it can sometimes take the form of a small knife. According to Swami Rama of the Himalayas, Guru Dev used to be fond of the Sri Yantra and used to do puja to the mystical device. Everyone already probably knows that a yantra is an engine for realization - a mnemonic device for transcending, just like a Sanskrit bija mantra.
While various ceremonial items used in Tibetan Buddhism are now fairly easily available in the West, a genuine phurba remains a rarity. The first time I ever saw one was in 1998 and it led me into an interesting psychical adventure. According J.H. Brennan, in his book 'Occult Tibet': "I was in Britain at the time travelling through the Cotswolds. My wife, who is almost as interested in Tibet as I am, recalled that some years ago she had read of a specialist company selling Tibetan goods in the area. We went searching and found a treasure trove. The store was on two levels, one of which was almost entirely taken up by Tibetan carpets and rugs. The other displayed a marvelous collection of artifacts. There were familiar items like prayer wheels, the wooden hand-held wheels with which Tibetans mechanize prayer. The mantra "Om mani padme hum" is carved on the outside and also placed inside written on a tiny roll of paper. As the wheel spins, the mantra of compassion and peace is sent out to the universe. I saw a selection of bells and dorjes, both of which have made their way to the West in large numbers." Source: 'Occult Tibet' Secret practices of Himalayan Magic. By J.H. Brennan Llewellyn, 2002
