Antique mani Tibetan singing bowl Himalayan meditation sound therapy healing buddhism Note C5

At Temple Sounds we work with individuals all over the Himalayas to ethically source the best antique and new singing bowls we can.

Mani singing bowls also sometimes also known as mudra, elephants foot bowls, and Buddha begging bowls. These rare singing bowls have thick walls, flat bottoms and are wider in the middle than at the bottom or lip. Their inward slope is that of the classic begging bowl though they are much larger. Decorative markings are standard lines and concentric circles, though often faint due to wear. Mani singing bowls generally are dated from the late 16th to the 19th century. There are no new Mani bowls.

Despite their size Mani bowls tend to be very high in frequency. It is quite rare to find a Mani that is as low as the upper range of the middle octave, which is a pretty high sound. The vast majority are in the 5th octave with some examples starting in the 6th. Mani bowls tend to have smooth or etched broad rims and are usually very easy to play with a wooden ended stick. Some play well with a suede ended stick and some, rough, pitted bowls won’t have any rim play at all. They all sound fantastic when struck.

This bowl:

Sound: Long resonance, high, positive and sweet. Pure. Rim play possible with wooden stick.

Decoration: Soft lines outside. Soft circles inside. Soft lines on rim.

Note: C5 512Hz

Diameter at largest point: 7.25"

Patina: Golden matt bronze with mottled stains and oxidisation inside and out, commensurate with age and use.

Thanks for looking!