A phurba is a ceremonial dagger used in Buddhist ceremonies to exorcise demons or as a spiritual nail to pin down the distractions of greed, desire, and envy. The sides of the phurba destroy the three poisons: attachment, aversion, and delusion. A phurba also is used a means of destroying violence, hatred, and aggression by tying them to the blade of the phurba and then vanquishing them with its tip. A phurba is used in the ritual slaying of negative emotions, such as anger. It is regarded as possessing magical powers, and is an essential artifact used in Buddhist practices and as a powerful weapon which subdues evil spirits and negative energies – transforming them into positive forces. It is therefore that the phurba is not a physical weapon, but a spiritual implement.