Tibetan Chod Damaru With White Metal

Damaru: Chod Damaru

In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition the damaru is part of a collection of sacred implements and musical instrument was adopted from the tantric practices of ancient India. It is generally larger in circumference and has a more round shape than its smaller counterpart. The Chod damaru is used in the tantric practice of Chod.

The pitch of the drum varies and the tone may vary depending on conditions of dampness temperature and so on. Played slowly and methodically the droning of the damaru accompanies the haunting melodies and chants of the chod ritual as of which are accompaniments for the inner meditations and visualizations that are at the heart of this spiritual practice.

The above applies to the ideal manufacture of the damaru and as still described in the definitive modern work the “Mindroling Handbook of Vajrayana Implements.” Those manufactured in India and Nepal are made of indeterminate and cheap woods with painted skins often no interior mantras and altogether deviating from the many other essentials as presrcibed in technical literature such as the Mindroling Handbook. Such copies are now widespread and in use by Eastern monastics and Western students.

Chopen
Damaru of all kinds are traditionally paired with a long sash or tail called a chopen. The chopen is attached to the end of the drum’s handle so that it waves about while the drum is being played. These adornments commonly include but are not limited to: a polished silver mirror or melong a set of small bells strips of tiger and/or leopard skin one or more precious stones (i.e. dzi bead) and any number of small brass trinkets.