Material: Red altar wood drum body. Tassels tied with hand rope. Embroidered drum cover

Size: 4.5"dia

Description:

The red altar wood hand drum (called "Damaru" in Tibetan) is an important ritual instrument in Tibetan Buddhism, especially in the Tantric rituals, it has profound symbolic meaning and practical functions. The following will be described from its influence in Tibetan Buddhism and the origin of related myths:

I. The influence and status of the red altar wood hand drum in Tibetan Buddhism

1. **The core role in religious rituals**:

- **Ritual instrument function**: The red altar wood hand drum is a double-sided small drum, often used with a bell pestle (Tibetan: drilbu), and is widely used in the Tantric rituals of Tibetan Buddhism, such as salvation, blessing, exorcism and meditation. Its sound is believed to awaken the practitioner's mind, purify the environment, and resonate with the rhythm of the universe, helping the practitioner to enter a deeper state of meditation.

- **Symbolic meaning**: The sound of the hand drum symbolizes the combination of "emptiness" and "great compassion", and the rhythm of the drum represents the pulse and impermanence of the universe, reminding practitioners of the truth of life and death. The shape of the drum (usually an hourglass) also symbolizes the balance of yin and yang or the unity of duality, which echoes the philosophy of Tantric dual practice or the unity of opposites.

2. **Application in different sects**:

- The red altar wooden hand drum is used in the four major sects of Tibetan Buddhism (Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, and Gelug), especially in the practice of Dzogchen in the Nyingma school, because its sound can help practitioners enter the state of non-discriminatory wisdom and is highly valued.

- In specific Tantric rituals, such as "Qangmu" (a Tibetan Buddhist religious dance) or "subduing demons" rituals, the rhythm of the hand drum is used to expel evil spirits or summon guardian gods, showing its versatility in religious practice.

3. **Cultural and artistic value**:

- Red altar wood hand drums are usually made of red altar wood (or other hard wood), and the drum surface may be made of animal skin or special materials (such as human skin, see the mythology section below), and are often decorated with paintings or metal, reflecting the artistic aesthetics of Tibetan Buddhism. These hand drums are not only religious instruments, but also important symbols of Tibetan culture, and often appear in temple murals, thangkas and cultural relics collections.

4. **Influence**:

- Red altar wood hand drums are not only practical ritual tools in Tibetan Buddhism, but also carry profound philosophical implications, which are closely related to the practice goals of Tantric Buddhism - transcending duality and realizing emptiness. Its sound is regarded as a bridge that can communicate between people and the universe, and between the manifest and the secret, so it has an irreplaceable position in the practice and rituals of Tibetan Buddhism.

- However, some scholars and modern views (such as Master Shengyan) point out that some Tibetan Buddhist instruments (such as human skin hand drums) may cause controversy and affect their acceptance among other Buddhist sects because they incorporate elements of Bon and Indian Tantric Buddhism.

2. The myth and origin of the red altar wood hand drum

1. **Basic origin**:

- The origin of the red altar wood hand drum can be traced back to the Vajrayana period of India. After Buddhism was introduced to Tibet, it merged with the local Bon religion's drum music tradition to form a unique Tibetan Buddhist instrument. Red altar wood has become the preferred material for making hand drums because of its hardness, durability and crisp sound.

- According to Tibetan Buddhist literature, the shape and use of hand drums were influenced by the Shakta and Shaiva sects of Hinduism, especially the "skull instrument" tradition of Indian Tantric Buddhism. These instruments are believed to help practitioners transcend their attachment to the material world and realize impermanence and emptiness.

2. **Mythology - The legend of "Ajie Drum"**:

- In some legends of Tibetan Buddhism, especially those related to human skin hand drums (rather than pure red altar wood hand drums), a ritual instrument called "Ajie Drum" is mentioned, and its mythological background is tragic:

- According to "Sincere News Network", "Ajie Drum" is a hand drum made from the skin of young women (usually virgins). Legend has it that these women were selected as sacrifices, skinned and made into drums for Tantric rituals. The story describes a mute (unable to speak) girl who suddenly disappeared. Her sister went everywhere to look for her, but on the way she met an old man who repeatedly chanted the six-syllable mantra (Om Mani Padme Hum), and finally found that her sister had been made into a hand drum. This legend is believed to reflect the tragedy of the death of the Tibetan serf system, where women sacrificed themselves due to religious or social pressure and became materials for ritual instruments. [

- The hand drum in this legend is believed to have special spiritual power. It is said that it can summon bodhisattvas or guardian gods when it is struck. However, some people criticize that this is the result of the integration of Tibetan Buddhism with Bon religion, involving inhumane customs and contrary to the compassionate spirit of Buddhism.

3. **Relationship with Guru Padmasambhava**:

- Padmasambhava, revered by Tibetan Buddhism, is considered the founder of Tantra. When he entered Tibet in the 8th century, he taught a large number of secret methods and established the importance of hand drums in rituals. According to legend, Guru Padmasambhava used hand drums to subdue the evil spirits of Bon religion and transformed them into Buddhist guardian gods. The rhythm of hand drums is believed to simulate the original sound (nada) of the universe, helping practitioners to correspond with the Dharmakaya Buddha Vairocana.

- In the Nyingma tradition, Guru Padmasambhava is regarded as the founder of the use of hand drums. He combined the beating of hand drums with mantras to create a unique practice method that emphasizes the resonance of sound and consciousness.

4. **The controversy over human bone and human skin hand drums**:

- Some hand drums (especially the "yin-yang drums") are said to be made from the skulls or human skins of enlightened practitioners. These materials are believed to contain the spiritual power of the practitioners and can enhance the effectiveness of the instruments. According to the "six realms of reincarnation" and "impermanence" teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, the body is regarded as an inanimate substance. Using human bones or human skin is not regarded as death, but a symbol of giving up attachment. However, this practice has caused controversy in modern times and has been criticized by some scholars (such as the Zhengjue Education Foundation) as a deviation from the Buddhist Dharma and related to the witchcraft tradition of Bon religion.

III. Summary

The red altar wooden hand drum is not only a practical instrument in Tibetan Buddhism, but also an important symbol connecting the exoteric and esoteric schools, and the material and the spiritual. Its sound and shape carry the Buddhist view of impermanence and the philosophy of emptiness, and play a core role in the esoteric rituals. However, the myth of the "Ajie Drum" related to the human skin hand drum reveals the complex interweaving of Tibetan Buddhism with Bonism and the serf system in its historical development, sparking controversy over ethics and religious purity. These stories and the use of ritual instruments reflect the unique evolution of Tibetan Buddhism in the integration of Indian Tantric Buddhism and Tibetan local culture.