Vintage altar bell Tibetan Buddhist style #9, B-quality

Altar bells such as this one can be used during rituals, ceremonies and healing sessions, especially at the beginning and/or end of the session. They are used for multiple reasons. For example; they clearly mark the beginning and end of the session, making it a period set apart from the rest of the day, their sounds and vibrations cleanse space and energyfields and they call in the helpfull spirits and drive out the heavy ones. 

This altar bell has been made in a common Tibetan Buddhist style and is very rich is symbolism. In Tibetan Buddhist practice, a bell such as this is called ‘ghanta’ and commonly forms a pair with a dorje. In that combination, the bell should be held in the left hand and symbolizes the feminine principle of wisdom, as personified by the Great Mother goddess Prajnaparamita. The bell as a whole, with all the traditional depictions on it, can be seen as the mandala of Prajnaparamita:

The hollow of the bell represents the emptiness from which all phenomena arise, the clapper represents form. The sound they create together radiates forth from the void, lingers for a while, and then disappears back into emptiness again.

Close to the rim, a ring of dorjes can be seen; an indestructible circle of protection.

Above this protective border, approximately half way the bell, a depiction of Makaras holding loops of jeweled pendants in between more dorje symbols can be seen. The jeweled pendants symbolize the decoration of the heavenly palace and the dorje’s in this area represent the eight charnel grounds of the mandala. In between the Makaras, eight lotus petals represent the Eight Bodhisattvas.

And at the top of the bell, yet another row of dorjes symbolizes the inner walls and inner protection circle of the mandala.

Also the handle of the bell is filled with symbolism; the face is that of the Great Mother Prajnaparamita. The shapes in the stem below her represent the earth and a vase of treasures. Above the face of the Mother, a lotus pedestal forms the base for the crown of a five-pronged dorje.

This bell is made from bronze, is approximately 16 centimeters high and weighs 270 grams. It is a vintage one, with the traces that come with age and previous usage, but overall in good condition.

As can be seen on the detail pictures, the original hanging from the clapper (what should have been some sort of metal eyelet/hook) has gone missing over time and has been replaced with a simple piece of cord. The clapper itself is still the original one. Because the clapper is now hanging not in the exact position where it should be, the sound and vibration of the bell is a bit off. But of course, this can easily be fixed by making a new, stable metal eyelet to fix the clapper in the right position again. 

Because of this, this bell is labelled and prized as B-quality. But with a little time and effort it can be a great ritual attribute again.