Materials: Coral (material) / Function: 5.0 Use not specified (Ritual, Pageantry, and Recreation) - Hearst Museum Portal Search Results

Start Over Materials Coral (material) Function 5.0 Use not specified (Ritual, Pageantry, and Recreation)

Hearst Museum object titled Ceremonial canteen, accession number 9-21899, described as Ceremonial canteen, worn at the belt of a Buddhist monk, suspended typically from a Ritual Scepter (see 9-21866) or a pen case (9-21929).The square of silk forms a sleeve for the hands, the canteen itself is a very small copper bottle, containing perhaps 2 oz. It has a wooden stopper and an elegant silver throat and cap. Cotton cord safeguards the cap and suspends the body of the canteen. At the other end of the cord is a heavy white ball, probably of coral or shell. See: T-128 pict.

Hearst Museum object titled Ceremonial teacup, accession number 9-21949a-c, described as This is a ceremonial tea cup with a silver holder and lid, topped with a coral bead. It is used by aristocrats for tea parties. It is one of a set of two--See T-135.The cup may be of jade, or may be of some other natural substance.

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 Prayer beads, accession number 9-21868, described as Prayer beads (mala), used in Tantric meditations to organize and keep track of mantras and recitations.There are one hundred and eleven beads, the standard number for a Buddhist mala. In addition there are six red coral beads. These are used as head beads and for spacer beads, often placed after the twenty first bead from the head bead on each side.