This sterling silver counter is in the form of a phurba, or ritual dagger (Tib. ཕུར་པ་, Wyl. phur pa/phur bu; Skt. kīla/kīlaya).

The phurba is commonly used in Vajrayana ritual and appears throughout traditional imagery and practice.

From The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs:

“The wrathful phurba is depicted in the dark-blue colour of iron, symbolising its unchangeable and indestructible vajra nature. Vajra-flames often emanate along the edges of its blades, as the phurba is described as blazing with fire when it is stabbed in the ten directions. The lower half of the dagger represents method or skilful means, and its upper shaft symbolises wisdom. The point of its blade metaphorically presses on the hell realms beneath the earth, and its upper shaft ascends through the god realms.”

“The triple blade of the phurba, which is described as ‘a ferocious striker issuing from the jaws of a makara’, symbolises the overcoming or cutting through of the three root poisons: ignorance, desire, and hatred.”

Bhum, pronounced “boom,” is the Tibetan term for 100,000. Bhum counters are used with a mala to mark large accumulations of mantra recitations. They can be clipped onto the mala and moved bead by bead to track thousands or hundreds of thousands of mantra, either on their own or together with a pair of standard counters.

Length: 1¾” (44 mm) including clip”
Width: 1/2” (13 mm)