Bells are used for spiritual and ritual purposes all over the world, especially on the Eurasian continent. Also when visiting a traditional shaman, they are not to be missed. They are everywhere. On the costume, on the drum, on the altar, on attributes and spirit dolls.
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 bronze altar bell comes from Tibet and shows a depiction of Nandi at the handle. In Hinduism, the bull Nandi is the vahana (mount) of Shiva and the guardian of the sacred Mount Kailash, the mountain said to be the home of Shiva and Parvati. Also in many cases, Nandi can be seen as a representation of Shiva himself.
This bell is quite a heavy one; 533 grams. It has quite some years of age to it already and shows the signs of its previous usage. Especially noteable are the scratches that can be seen at the top of the bell. The sound however is very good: warm, melodious and longlasting.
