Old Nepalese iron melong Yamantaka 65 millimeters

The use of metal mirrors as an indispensable attribute for people dealing with the worlds of the spirits on a regular base, such as professional shamans and priests, is already known for more than 6000 years. As such they have been found in excavations all over (especially) the Eurasian continent. From Tibet, Siberia, Nepal to China.

In different regions, the shamanic mirror is known with different names, such as kuzungu, toli, panaptu, melong, darpana or chinza. But regardless of the name, the mirror is attributed the same sacred functions in all these regions. Such as; protection against malignant forces, amplifying the power of the heart from the one wearing it, being a guide and protector in other worlds, being a spirit container and assisting in oraclework and scrying. 

The shamanic mirror is one of the most important attributes in the tradition of Spirit of Wolf and is worn during all kinds of rituals and healing work. 

A shamanic mirror can be made in different shapes and patterns, and be decorated with all kinds of motives and symbolism. The frontside is often very shiny and should be regularly polished to be able to reflect all negative influences away. 

Shamanic mirrors can be made from different kinds of metal. The diverse metals are attributed certain correspondences such as: 
- Brass or bronze, connected to the Sun
- Silver, connected to the Moon
- Copper, connected to Underworld Sun

This mirror comes from Nepal, where such amulets are typically called 'melong' and worn on the belt (instead of around the neck). 

This unique melong shows the depiction of the buddhist bull-headed deity Yamantaka, the most wrathful manifestation of Manjushri. He embodies a wrath so powerful that it can be a danger even to himself if not controlled properly. The name 'yamantaka' consists of 'Yama' and 'antaka' and can roughly be translated as 'Destroyer of the Lord of Death'; by defeating Yama (the Lord of Death) the endless cycle of samsara can be broken. In Vajrayana Buddhism, Yamantaka is often equated with the meditational deity Vajrabhairava, but in his bull-headed depiction as Yamantaka he can be dated back to the earlier school of Nyingma or even the pre-buddhist Bon spirituality of Tibet. In the different schools, the role of Yamantaka may vary a bit, from a very strong protector (especially a 'dharmapala'; protector of the buddhist dharma) to a wrathful destroyer with an almost uncontrollable rage.

This melong has been handmade from iron, with brass decoration on the horns. An exceptional piece of traditional artisan craftmanship. It comes from Nepal and has quite some years of age to it already.

Size; 65 millimeters diameter, measured without the eyelet. Weight; 41 grams.

Very rare item, only one available.