This old handmade kartika is collect from Tibet, a old pandent, made of thokcha (Cold Iron from meteoric iron), carved with could ,very delicate and rare.
Its upper part is a half vajra, and the lower part is a kartika.
You can make it into a necklace, or a keychain, or just put it on your desk,as an ornament.
Details
100% Handmade
Pendant material:thokcha -thunder iron
Pattern: kartika,knife of the dakinis. Dhrama
Height: 42mm /1.65 inches
Width: 38mm/ 1.50 inches
ABOUT Thokcha -Thunder Iron
Thokcha (Tibetan: ཐོག་ལྕགས, གནམ་ལྕགས) are tektites and meteorites which serve as amulets.Typically high in iron content, also called Thunder Iron,Cold Iron.These are traditionally believed to contain a magical, protective power comparable to Tibetan dzi beads. Most thokcha are made of a copper alloy.
Thogchags or Thokcha are worn as amulets by Tibetans, specifically people of the Himalayan regions, for spiritual protection and healing. Created in several forms, they often depict tantric deities, sacred animals, auspicious symbols, and mantras. Many represent ritual supports such as a mirror, phurba, or vajra. Some pieces may be abstract in nature, and the meaning of the form has since been lost in antiquity. Further research is still in the process. Other Thokcha were simply used as ancient arrow points, buckles, body armour, or even old horse trappings.
ABOUT KARTIKA
A kartika (Sanskrit: kartari; Tibetan: གྲི་གུག་, Wylie: gri-gug,or kartrika in Nepal,) is a small, crescent-shaped, hand-held ritual flaying knife used in the tantric ceremonies of Vajrayana Buddhism. The kartari is said to be "one of the quintessential attributes of the wrathful Tantric deities."It is commonly known as the "knife of the dakinis."Its shape is similar to the Inuit ulu or woman's knife, which is used for many things including cleaning skins.
While the kartari is normally held in the right hand of a dakini in Vajrayana iconography and spiritual practice, occasionally it can be seen being held by esoteric male deities,such as certain forms of Yamantaka.It is also found frequently in the iconography of the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual practice of Chöd.
The dakini's knife has a flat sharpened blue iron blade with a curved hook at its outer extremity, which enables the flaying activities of cutting, scraping, and pulling. Its faceted or eight-sided handle is attached to the upper edge of the blade by either a leaf-shaped golden mount or the wide-open mouth of a golden makara, and the handle's top is sealed by a half-vajra.
The same way that the bell and vajra are usually paired ritual items in Vajrayana spiritual practice and iconography (one is held in the right hand and the other simultaneously held in the left), the kartika usually appears as a pair with the kapala or "skull-cup".
The shape of the kartika, or trigug, with its crescent shape and the hook on the end, is derived from the shape of a traditional shape of the Indian butcher's knife.
Depictions of Vajrayogini typically contain the kartika as one of her attributes. In the iconography of the enlightened dakinis and tantric female yidams, it is common to find the hooked kartika knife in her right hand and the skull cup in her left, representing "the inseparable union of wisdom and skillful means."
Meanings
The traditional interpretation of the hook in Tibetan Buddhist imagery is that of the hook of compassion. It is the hook which pulls beings out of the cycles of transmigration. The hooked crescent-shaped knife of the dakini with its vajra handle pulls one forth from suffering, chops up the ego-centred self and is guided by the diamond clarity of the vajra.
The kartika is used to symbolize the severance of all material and worldly bonds and is often crowned with a vajra, which is said to destroy ignorance, and thus leading to enlightenment. Another more nuanced interpretation says that "the kartika represents the severing of the two Buddhist obscurations of defilements (klesha avarana) and knowledge (jneya avarana) that obstruct the path of enlightenment." The kartika is also used to cut through human obscurations to progress on the spiritual path including "pride, lack of belief, lack of devotion, distraction, inattention, and boredom."
ABOUT GANDHANRA
We're artisans from Hepo Township, Baiyu County,Tibetan.
We use ancient Tibetan handicrafts to make Tibetan Buddhist instruments.
All our crafts are directly handmade from Tibet.
When you purchase this craft it helps and support our artisan and our families in Tibet.
Your support is highly appreciated.
Packaging &Shipping:
As per our Product nature, we do the packaging. For every single product, we do the bubble wrapping along with the paper carton boxes is also used for more safety. In the case of heavy products, we also use wooden boxes too for more safe packaging and sent for the shipping process.
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