Tibetan melong Kalachakra and Si Pa Ho 32 millimeters

Recently made brass mirrors from Tibet, with a diameter of 32 millimeters (measured without the eyelet) and a weight of 18 grams. The brass metal has a nice warm color. In Tibet, mirrors such as these are called 'melong'. They are traditionally often worn on the belt, instead of around the neck. These mirrors come to us via our friends at Shaman Bazar.

Design characteristics:

On the frontside of this mirror one of the best known symbols of Vajrayana Buddhism can be seen; the Kalachakra symbol. The symbol consist of 7 vertical syllables, intertwined with horizontal consonant syllables. And on top of that 3 more symbols; a crescent, a disc and a curved shape (thus making a total of 10 symbols; the Kalachakra symbol is therefore also known as the'Tenfold Powerful One').

The word 'kalachakra' can be roughly translated as 'wheel of time' or 'cycles of time'. The tantric teachings of Kalachakra are 2500 year old and revolve around the awareness of all different levels of cycles in our lives; internal, external and alternate.

The 7 vertical syllables (HAM KSHA MA LA VA RA YA) in this symbol together form the Kalachakra mantra. The mantra is recited to purify mind and body and become more and more aware of all these different cycles. From this awareness the way of transition from unconsciousness to enlightenment can be opened.

On the left and right of this symbol are the Lantsa characters for E and VAM, representing the union of emptiness (E) and bliss (VAM).

On the backside of this mirror, a depiction of the traditional Tibetan astrological system can be seen; the astrological chart of Si Pa Ho, consisting of three schematic images:

1) In the center the mystical square Me Wa Gu can be seen. In the 9 parts the numbers from 1 to 9 are inscribed, the sum of which in each column is 15. This scheme forms in Tibetan-Mongolian astrology a numerological indication of the relationship between a person and deities and spirits. Each digit governs the year, they replace each other in reverse order.

In China this mystical square has been known since 2200 BCE and is called 'Lo Shu' or Nine Halls diagram; it derives from ancient Chinese mathematical and divination traditions, such as the art of Taoist Geomancy. Nowadays it is also widely known as an important emblem in Feng Shui; the 9 parts (also called 'palaces') then represent the 8 directions of the compass plus the central position, with each part having its own energy.

2) In the ring around the square the 8 trigrams ('Ba Gua') of Par Ha Ge can be seen. The trigram symbols come from very ancient origin; they derive from symbols found on ancient Chinese divination bones dating back as long as 11th century BCE. A related version of bone oracle is still used today by Turkic and Mongolian people, and also in the lineage of Spirit of Wolf Shamanism; 'Kazhiki'. 

Doubled trigrams form 64 hexagrams, which form the core of the I Ching, the Book of Changes.

Each trigram is a divinatory grapheme and represents different dynamics, energies, cardinal points, animals, seasons etc. In depictions such as on these melongs, where the 8 of them together form a circle, it symbolizes heavenly order, a healthy balance and right flow of energy.

3) In the outside circle the 12 animals from the Eastern zodiac can be seen. Just like the circular arrangement of the trigrams, also this motive adds to the idea of heavenly order. But also its presence, when used on shamanic mirrors, symbolizes control over time and space, an important core principle in the practice of shamanism.

 Read more about the origin, design and usage of (shamanic) mirrors in the general description of our webshop collection "Mirrors and Melongs".