Rare Journeying 2-Horsemen Antique Jhakri/Shaman Phurba

This is a particularly unusual and interesting antique shaman phurba. It depicts two travellers riding side-by-side on horseback.   The horses are mounted on a deep rectangular block with faces and shamanic symbols carved on each side.

The front is divided into three sections with a face, possibly Buddha, in the middle and set between a Bhumpa (ritual offering vase) to the left, and a bird in a tree on the right.

The back is also divided into three sections, with a double trident in the middle, set between the moon on the left and the sun on the right.

Both longer sides are divided into 4 sections, with the middle two panels occupied by the same face as that on the front.  On one side the faces are set between a lotus leaf and a temple gate, and on the other an owl and entwined nagas (snakes).

Beneath the platform there is a dorje hilt bound tightly in an old twine shoelace. This might be talismanic, having come from a client, or possibly used to close an old split or shake in the wood that can be seen low down on one side.

Below the dorje hilt an elephant Makara (mythical sea creature) with carved symbols on the back of its head, leads to a short 3-sided blade decorated with entwined snakes.

This wonderful antique phurba is carved from a single piece of wood and is in excellent condition save for the aforementioned small and stable crack seen on one side of the elephant makara.

It seems likely that this phurba symbolizes an accompanied journey in the spirit world from one state or place to another.  Horsemen Phurba are used in Tamang funeral rituals. The riders are shamans who guide the soul of the deceased into the afterlife.