BY.T-23 (previous number) and T-23 (original number)
Accession number:
Acc.4737
Description:
Ghanta bell, part of a matched set with vajra cataloged as 9-21880. This is an inexpensive modern (late 20th century) ghanta. The casting is mediocre, the details poor, and the sound quality inferior to the older, finer ghantas in the collection: see 9-21920; 9-21923; 9-21924; 9-21903. The handle is machine threaded to screw into the bell. This is a modern technique not used on older (pre-20th century) ghantas nor on modern, high quality ghantas. This is likely part of the collection that was obtained in the 1980's or 1990's in California rather than in 1930's Tibet.
Donor:
Estate of G. Eleanore Murray, Estate of Theos C. Bernard, and Theos C. Bernard
Collection place:
Nepal
Verbatim coll. place:
Nepal
Collector:
Theos C. Bernard
Materials:
Cotton (textile), Iron (metal), and Metal
Object type:
ethnography
Function:
5.0 Use not specified (Ritual, Pageantry, and Recreation)
Production date:
20th century
Accession date:
March 12, 2004
Context of 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: 9-21879; 9-21920; 9-21923; 9-21924; & 9-21903.
Department:
Asia (except western Russia)
Dimensions:
width 9.843 centimeters, height 9.843 centimeters, and length 17.463 centimeters