Media available: image / Collection place: Xizang autonomous region (Tibet), Tibetan Pleatau, China / Materials: Turquoise (mineral) - Hearst Museum Portal Search Results

Start Over Media available image Collection place Xizang autonomous region (Tibet), Tibetan Pleatau, China Materials Turquoise (mineral)

Hearst Museum object titled Amulet box, accession number 9-21795a,b, described as Amulet box (a) and lid (b) meant to be filled with mantras, relics, and/or sacred medicines, and worn around the neck for protection and spiritual connections with deities and Lamas. This type of decorated amulet box is worn by women, hung around the neck in the center of the chest. See: T-37 pict.

Hearst Museum object titled Amulet box, accession number 9-21869a,b, described as Amulet box(a) and lid(b), of the type worn by an affluent woman. In it she would put sacred objects such as relics of a venerated Lama (a picture or photograph, a piece of his robe, for example), sacred medicines, a small image of Buddha, mantras written on rolls of paper, and folded and thread-crossed mandalas drawn in ink on paper (such as 9-21872 and 9-21878). The amulet box is worn around the neck in the center of the chest.

Hearst Museum object titled Damaru, accession number 9-22066, described as This is a damaru, a small hand-held drum used in ritual and meditation practices. It is held in the right hand and the wrist is rotated back and forth so that the turquoise strikers rapidly beat the two drum skins. At the same time, the ritual bell (ghanta) is often rung by the left hand. The most typical use of these is as a musical offering to whichever deities are being addressed in the ritual. See also T-159.

Hearst Museum object titled Damaru, accession number 9-22050, described as This is an elaborate version of the damaru T-158. Human skull bones are used for the body of the drum. The skin may be human. The damaru is a small hand-held drum used in ritual and meditation practices. It is held in the right hand and the wrist is rotated back and forth so that the turquoise strikers rapidly beat the two drum skins. At the same time, the ritual bell (ghanta) is often rung by the left hand. The most typical use of these is as a musical offering to whichever deities are being addressed in the ritual. See also T-158.

Hearst Museum object titled Earring, accession number 9-21798, described as Earring, gilt copper, with two turquoise stones and one red stone; copper appendage on back to hang it from the ear of a large bronze Buddha or Bodhisattva.

Hearst Museum object titled Fire mandala and tripod, accession number 9-22053, described as This is the lower portion of a Kapala (skull cup) ritual set. The triangular portion is the fire mandala (the sphere of the fire element) upon which is the tripod formed from three freshly severed human heads. Upon this tripod would be placed a matching skull cup, formed either from an actual human skull or from a bronze or silver facsimile. This tripod is of the size appropriate to an actual human skull cup. There are several in this collection (see T-46). Upon the skull cup could be placed a fitted lid with a vajra handle (see T-69).

Hearst Museum object titled Flint and striker set, accession number 9-22031, described as This is a flint and striker set ornamented with turquoise, coral, and a bead of unknown material. The pouch contains flint stones. The iron striker bar is attached to the pouch, which hangs from a cotton cord.

Hearst Museum object titled Flint & striker set with purse, accession number 9-21901a-c, described as This set consists of a flint and striker joined with to a purse by means of a leather thong. The flint and striker (3 1/2 X 5 X 1/2 inches) consists of a leather pouch for flint stones with a curved iron striker attached. The purse is 8 inches high with fob and tassel, 2 3/4 inches alone. It is 4 1/2 inches wide and 1 1/4 inches deep. It has turquoise and coral insets and brass decorations.

Hearst Museum object titled Ghanta, accession number 9-21923, described as This is a beautiful old ghanta bell with a handle of gilded bronze, and turquoise and coral insets. The bell is made of a five metal alloy to produce a rich, full sound. There are only three vajra points at the top, as two are missing.The striker shows the unique pattern of wear associated with generations of constant use.The ghanta bell is used in most Tantric rituals. It is held in the left hand and the matched vajra is held in the right. The matching vajra to this ghanta is not present in the collection. It would match upper part of the ghanta handle. The ghanta embodies the feminine principle in Tantric usage, and the vajra is the masculine. The ghanta holds the principle of ultimate wisdom and the vajra, the principle of ultimate compassion and skillful means.Ghanta bells in this collection are numbers: T-23; T-63; T-66; T-67; & T-85

Hearst Museum object titled Headdress, accession number 9-21796, described as Headdress or tiara made to be placed on the head of a large bronze image of a Buddha or Bodhisattva. It has five lobes which represent the five Buddhas.