Small bronze khatvanga

A khatvanga is a ritual or ceremonial staff or staff-weapon known in Hinduism and Buddhism, especially in Tantric traditions such as Shaivism and Vajrayana. The form is derived from the typical emblematic staff, worn as an attribute by early Indian Shaivite ascetics called Kapalika. 'Kapalika' translates as 'skull-men' or 'skull-bearers', referring to the fact that these men (originally penitents, who got sentenced to twelve years of penence after killing a Brahmin) traditionally carried a skull-topped trident and a human skull as begging bowl.

Early tantric Buddhists adopted the attributes of these Kapalika into their spiritual practices and thus the khatvanga became more and more of a ceremonial or ritual attribute, where the original Kapalika symbolism got mixed more and more with Buddhist symbolism.

These ones are small khatvanga's made from good, heavy quality dark bronze. They can be used as a powerful attribute in your personal ritual and meditative practices. They combine the symbolism of the dorje with a kartika and 'hook of compassion'.

The kartika is a flaying, crescent-shaped knife or chopper. In Tibetan iconography it is mostly seen in the hands of female wrathful deities, such as the dakini's. The typical crescent-shaped form is derived from the traditional form of Indian butcher knives, but can for example also be seen in the typical skinning knife used by Inuit women.

The kartika is especially used in Tibetan Buddhist ceremonies and rituals, such as the Chöd ritual. It symbolizes the severance from all material and worldly bonds and chops up the ego-centered self.

The hook-shape on one end of the crescent symbolizes the 'hook of compassion'. It is this hook that pulls souls out of the eternal karmic cycles of death and rebirth.

The kartika is often paired with the symbol of a dorje or double dorje. 

The word 'dorje' (or in Sanskrit 'vajra') translates both as 'lightning bolt' and as 'diamond'. The dorje symbolizes the true nature of the universe and reality; the endless, ultimate emptiness in which all possibilities exist. The dorje supports in 'cutting through the crap of the mind', finding a clear path through the diversions of the 'monkey-mind' and ego-chatter, seeing what's real and what's not. The dorje is said to destroy all kinds of ignorance and in this way helps in gaining true insights.

The dorje supports the (ritual) actions that can be done with the kartika, making sure they are done with diamond clarity.

These khatvanga's have a nice small size, making them easy to take with you while travelling. One of them has a kartika (with hook of compassion), one of them only the hook of compassion. Here is some more info on the two variations;

#1; with kartika, 14,5 centimeters, 77 grams
#2; with hook of compassion, 14,5 centimeters, 98 grams