Kartika flaying knife, with vajra handle - RITUAL ITEMCustom colored dark edition of a classic Kartika, especially for Torvenius store. These items are handmade in Nepal. A kartika or drigug is a small, crescent shaped, hand held ritual flaying knife used in the tantric ceremonies of Vajrayana Buddhism. The kartari is said to be "one of the quintessential attributes of the wrathful Tantric deities." It is commonly known as the "knife of the dakinis." Its shape is similar to the Inuit ulu or woman's