Drigug

Drigug, Grigug - In Tibetan Buddhism, Kartika or Drigug is a ritual knife used in burial rituals. The blade resembles a crescent moon, the handle is most often stylized in the form of macaroons - a creature from Indian mythology, half crocodile, half fish. Kartika symbolizes the cutting off of everything that hides reality (jealousy, hatred or ignorance) or interferes with meditation (distraction, pride or inattention). Like other instruments of Tibetan Buddhism, Kartika is probably a holdover from the practice of pagan Buddhism.