Material: Red Copper. Cast. Inlaid with Silver. Handmade.

Size: 18 cm

**Definition**:

- A Kapala ("thod pa" in Tibetan) is a ceremonial vessel made from a human skull, or a metal imitation (such as silver or copper), used in Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana). It is bowl-shaped with a smooth interior.

It generally refers to a human skull bowl, considered a common ritual implement in the hands of Dharma protectors or dakinis. It symbolizes the power of enlightenment, transcending death and overcoming visible and invisible obstacles and demons.

The Dharma protector holds the human skull bowl in his left hand and a vajra axe in his right hand, placed above the Kapala bowl on his chest, symbolizing the union of wisdom and method.

**Role in Buddhist Ritual**:

1. **Symbolism**: Represents impermanence (anicca) and emptiness (śūnyatā), reminding practitioners to transcend attachment and transform the mundane into the sacred. Together with the vajra (loving-kindness), it symbolizes the unity of wisdom and compassion.

2. **Ritual Use**:

- **Offering**: Contains nectar (amrita) or other offerings offered to the deity or guardian deity (such as Mahakala) for puja, initiation, or homa.

- **Tantric Practice**: Aids in visualizing death and rebirth, purifies the five poisons (greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt), and inspires bodhicitta.

- **Blessing and Purification**: The nectar in the bowl is sprinkled for purification, imparting spiritual blessings and eliminating karmic obstacles.

3. **Accompanying Instruments**: Often used with a vajra, a bell (ghanta), or a ritual dagger (phurba) to perform tantric rituals.

**Origin**:

- **Origin**: Originated from ancient Indian tantric groups (such as the Kapalika, 7th-8th centuries AD), which absorbed earthly traditions and emphasized impermanence. It was introduced to Tibet by Guru Padmasambhava (8th century AD) and integrated into Tibetan Buddhism.

- **Evolution**: Early practices used real skulls (from saints or those who died of natural causes), which required purification and blessing. Modern practices often use metal replicas, retaining their symbolic meaning.

- **Cultural Fusion**: Incorporated from the Tibetan Bon tradition of skull worship, it was transformed into a Buddhist path to liberation.

**Related Stories and Legends**:

1. **Guru Padmasambhava**: Legend has it that while subduing demons at Samye Monastery, he used a skull bowl to hold nectar and offered it to the Dharma protectors, transforming negative forces and symbolizing the transition from death to enlightenment.

2. **Milarepa**: An 11th-century saint used a skull bowl to contemplate impermanence, teaching his disciples to transform the mundane into wisdom. The hollow sound of the bowl, like the sound of Dharma, awakened the bodhicitta.

**Differences from the Ghanta**:

- A ghanta is a silent skull bowl used for offerings and meditation; a ghanta is a copper bell that sounds, symbolizing wisdom and the sound of the Dharma, marking ritual stages.

- The two are often used together, both embodying the unity of wisdom and compassion.

**Summary**: The ghanta is a key instrument in Tibetan Buddhist tantras, symbolizing impermanence and emptiness. It is used for offerings, purification, and spiritual practice. Originating from ancient Indian tantras, it was localized in Tibet and became a sacred vessel of transformation and awakening. Stories related to it, such as those of Padmasambhava and Milarepa, emphasize the transformation from the mundane to the sacred, deepening practitioners' understanding of the path to liberation.