Pangea-Collection.com Blog – Artisan Jewellery

When I found the Fair Trade organization in Nepal which was started by Mr. Shrestha who spent four years in jail with Gandhi, I knew I had to support this organization.

The social work of this organization can only be outdone by the extraordinary craftsmanship of their pieces. The Nepalese Collection includes artisan jewelry, Pashmina shawls and musical instruments.

The singing bowl is a wonderful symbol of the Nepalese culture. It is a ritual object used in the Himalayan region (Tibet and Nepal) since ancient times. When “played” with a wooden stick, the metal bowl emits a resounding sound that assists in meditation and releases mantras.

Singing bowls are traditionally constructed of seven metals: gold, silver, mercury, copper, iron, tin and lead, which correspond to the seven planets (sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, respectively).

The pitch of the bowl depends its thickness, size and weight. The pitch is fixed but the tone and volume can be controlled by the force of the tap, the hardness of the striking stick, and the point of percussion.

Creating a contemplative and calming sound, singing bowls are used throughout the Himalayas in monasteries and homes to aid meditation. The sound of a singing bowl can be used to mark the beginning or end of a meditation period, or during meditation to focus the mind.

It is also believed that mantras chanted during the making of a singing bowl are released into the universe when the bowl is played (thus they have a similar function as a prayer wheel).

In recent years, the use of singing bowls has come to the West, where they are used in meditation and are prescribed by alternative health practitioners to assist healing. The sound produced by a singing bowl is believed to evoke the Kundalini chakra.

To play a singing bowl, hold the bowl gently in the palm of your hand, allowing the body of the bowl to vibrate freely. With the wooden stick (puja), rub the outside rim in a circular motion, keeping an even pressure. Gently increase the speed as the bowl begins to vibrate, and as the sound grows. You can also tap the bowl to begin the vibration.

Discover the Nepalese singing bowls in the Pangea Collection.