Damaru

Tibetan

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 684

This thod-rnga, or damaru is made from two human skulls. The drum is played by twisting it back and forth with one hand so that the small pellets at the ends of the strings strike the two drumheads. Drums made of human skulls or painted with skulls and severed heads are considered by Tibetan Buddhists to be powerful tools for protection against evil.

Damaru, Skull, cloth, wax, Tibetan

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Damaru, Skull, cloth, wax, Tibetan
Damaru, Skull, cloth, wax, Tibetan

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