BY.T-67 (previous number) and T-67 (original number)
Description:
Large ghanta bell known as "Mahayana Ghanta." Height: 20 cm, Diameter: 12 cm
Collection place:
Tibet
Verbatim coll. place:
Tibet
Collector:
Theos C. Bernard
Materials:
Bronze (metal), Iron (metal), and Leather
Object type:
ethnography
Function:
5.0 Use not specified (Ritual, Pageantry, and Recreation)
Production date:
19th-20th century
Department:
Asia (except western Russia)
Dimensions:
diameter 12 centimeters and height 20 centimeters
Comment:
This is a large ghanta known as a "Mahayana Ghanta (theg chen dril bu). It is used in various ritual assemblies where a loud, deep-voiced bell is needed to accompany other ritual instruments. 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