True Bone
We have a two fabricators in Nepal that make authentic skull damarus and kangling, depending on availability. Kapala, when available, are from Bhutan (Bhuddhist) or Nepal (Brahmin). Nowadays, bone is unavailable from India, and restricted in both Nepal (illegal) and Bhutan. This occurred mainly due to the robbing of muslim graves in these countries, as well as pressure from Western countries regarding the trade in questionable medical bone specimens. In the case of China, they may be from various dubious sources (including Tibetan political prisoners).
The items from Bhtuan are made from skulls and thighbones of Buddhist practitioners of the Rokpa tribe, and obtained from skulls taken during the Chod sky burial ritual. This ethnic group of Bhutanese live in villages about 2 days walk from the end of the road, in far Eastern Bhutan, and these faithful are happy to receive the blessing of having their remains used by other Chodpas.
Kapala Damaru
These are fabricated from one male and one female skull, as per tradition.
Male and female yidam mantras are hand lettered in gold on red background in the respective male and female skulls.
The skins are \'trin-pak\' goat skins, treated by burying with mineral salts and sacred herbs, according to the ancient terma tradition.
They are joined by wood and copper structures, and have a copper band with places for gems of your choosing.
Price for the male-female human kapala varies; Please enquire directly.
Bone Kangling
Made from the same Buddhist bone source, there are a variety of factors and characteristics that make a kangling poor, good or excellent. Price is based on these characteristics, as well as the unique nature of our kangling.
Price: $550-$750.
Kapala Skullcup
Every Vajrayana practitioner should have a skullcup. This is used in all initiations, including self-initiation and various other rituals and can also used as a food vessel.
These calvarium are similarly obtained from Buddhists. The quality (and thus price) of skullcups depends on their various signs and characteristics, as well as type of sutures, age of the deceased, size and so on.
Sometimes one can find \'old\' or antique skullcups. If these are authentic (and not \'fake aged\'), unless one knows the purity of the practitioner, and what kinds of practices they were doing, a second-hand skullcup is not a good idea, as many negative and toxic energies can accumulate.
Skullcups that are carved on the outside are completely spurious. These are tourist items, usually created in Nepal and never used by practicing lamas, ngakpas or yogis. A skull lined with silver is acceptable, though in the past only a wealthy monastery, not a traveling yogi or yogini, could afford this. Other ornamentation, jewels, etc. are, again, an added embellishment that is avoided by the simple renuncient or practitioner.
Costs vary depending on the previous considerations, from $500 to over $1000.
