金刚橛原是兵器,后来被藏传佛教吸收为法器,有铜、银、木、象牙等各种材料制成,外形上大同小异,都是有一尖刃头,但手把上因用途不同而装饰不同。有的手柄是佛头;也有的是观音菩萨像,头戴五骼髅冠,最上端又有马头。它含有忿怒,降伏的意思。修法时在坛场的四角树立,意思是使道场范围内坚固如金刚,各种魔障不能来危害。
The Phurpa Dagger was originally a weapon. It was later absorbed by Tibetan Buddhism as a religious instrument. It was made of various materials such as copper, silver, wood, and ivory. Their shapes are mostly similar, and there is always a pointed blade, but the handle is decorated differently according to its use. Some of the handles are Buddha heads; some are Guanyin Bodhisattva statues, wearing five skeletons and crowns, and the top has a horse head. It carries the meaning of anger and forcing into submission. During religious rites, it is set up in the four corners of the Mandala, to strengthen the parameters of the area where the rites are being performed so that it is impermeable, and all kinds of bad magic cannot cause harm.