HI Jim,
The below quote is a description of it....
"The Khatvanga (Skt.) could be called a magic wand or magicians' stick and represents the 'magic powers' or siddhis (Skt.) of an accomplished tantric practitioner.
From
www.aroter.org:
"The shaft of the khatvangha has eight sides which represent the Noble Eightfold path (the fourth Noble Truth) and the eight classes of protectors. At the end of the shaft is a dorje representing totality and completion. Along the shaft of the khatvangha are crossed dorjes, a gTérbum and three heads. The crossed dorjes are symbolic of the indestructibility of beginningless wisdom mind. The gTérbum is symbolic of wealth and enrichment. The three heads – one freshly severed, one rotting and one a skull – are the symbols of the three spheres of being, chö-ku, long-ku and trül-ku [Nirmanakaya, the middle one represents the Sambhogakaya, and the top one is a skull, representing the Dharmakaya] which are unified by the shaft of the khatvangha demonstrating their inseparability. Streamers of the colours of the five elements hang from the khatvangha, as well as a bell and dorje which represent emptiness and form. At the top of the khatvangha are the three prongs which pierce the fabric of attraction, aversion and indifference. Hanging from the prongs are two pairs of rings. These signify the four philosophical extremes that are denied by Dharma: eternalism and nihilism, monism and dualism. Finally the khatvangha is surmounted by wisdom fire – the fire that burns self-protection, justification and referentiality."
The top of the kathvanga can be formed by a vajra or a trident (often depicted with flames around it)"
Am trying to date this Tibetan object to help compile a dating system for Tibetan metalwork.
rand