Damaru

Unknown

19th century · Skull, cloth, wax · Musical Instruments

This thod-rnga, or damaru is made from two human skulls. The drum is played by twisting it back and forth with one hand so that the small pellets at the ends of the strings strike the two drumheads. Drums made of human skulls or painted with skulls and severed heads are considered by Tibetan Buddhists to be powerful tools for protection against evil.

Artist

Unknown

Date

19th century

Medium

Skull, cloth, wax

Culture

Tibetan

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889