Rare 18th Century Ultra-Thin Lingam Singing Bowl – Ritual Gashes

This is a rare 18th Century Lingam Singing Bowl with the classical Thadobati shape…a straight wall, sheered lip, and flat bottom…plus a lingam surrounded by circles at its centre, and a matching naval or yoni underneath.

This lovely old bowl has seen years and years of service, to the point where its hammered walls have been worn down by handling, playing, and ritual cleaning, and are now ultra-thin and silky smooth with just a hint of surface undulation.  Thin-walled bowls tend to have more vibrant energy and beautifully refined voices, and this one is no exception.

The fundamental note (167HZ – 171HZ) sits midway between a third octave E3 and F3 and flickers between the two when struck with a padded mallet. However, when played around the rim with a suede or wooden ringer the note is a near perfect middle octave Bb4 (465Hz).

The magical ritual gashes that encircle the outer rim are a real stand-out feature of this bowl.  These cuts are only found on older bowls, and are thought to relate to their initiation in some way.  They are quickly made in seemingly random groups of 3, 4, or more cuts around the upper wall.  It’s extraordinary to think that a once pristine new and perfectly forged singing bowl had to undergo such crude and random hacking before it was fit to serve!

This interesting lingam bowl is in excellent structural condition, clean, and free of stains and blemishes.  It has a bright golden bronze colour and the look and feel of great antiquity.

A very special old bowl!

A Tibetan silk brocade bowl cushion and a double-ended teak and suede ringer are included in the price.