Preface
Before talking about Nepali Handicrafts and goods, I would like to give short description about country Nepal.
Nepal is a land of rich diversity geographically and culturally, consists of many Ethnics group with their own culture, religion and languages. It is also the home of, so-called Brave and undefeatable soldiers "Gorkhali" as well as, at the same time; a country that symbolizes Peace or birth place of Gautam Buddha. The world's highest mountain i.e. Mount Everest which is 8,848m high also lies here. Similarly, whether they belongs to different ethnicity or have different languages, it does not matter to the people of Nepal; that matters is true peace, love and hard laboury. In fact, it won't be wrong if you describe them as faithful, sincere and enthusiastic people.
To the beginning of this blog, i want to tell that; there are thousands and more such stuffs that belongs to Nepal, esp. that belongs or denote to different ethnicity. Whether they are made before history had existed or after; or belongs to respective ethnic group with their own significance, importance and value. Such stuffs had been created with time of need; such as cause of war like Madal(a wooden device coated with leather at the two end, which is almost cylindrical shape musical instrument, used to aware from enemy with its different varieties of sound or also in festivals till now; or Dhyangro (tantric musical device used by shamans; also called shaman's drum) and many more. Whereas other stuffs like Vajra, Dorje, etc. which has no exact formation history or a myth but still practised by respective religion.
Describing on,
I want to first introduce SINGING BOWL; (and with time, many more other devices) , which is also called Healing Bowls. Singing Bowls, Himalayan Bowls, rin gongs or suzu gongs are used worldwide for meditation, music, relaxation and personal well-being, or also as an offering Bowls.Bowls have double effect, with sound and vibration. Singing Bowls were historically made throughout Asia, esp. Nepal, Tibet and China and somepart of India. They are closely related to decorative bells made along the Silk Road from the near East to Western Asia.
Well, there are specifically 5 types of Bowl: Mongolian Tagoo, Indian and chinese Jala Tarang, Kashmir Noot, Indian Ghatam and Himalayan kitchen Bowls; but this one is unique and popular at a time; still used in Buddist temple "Gumba" as an offering Bowls to gods and goddess or as an musical instruments and healing device for meditation and massages . It can be traced back to Asia as early as 2000 B.C. They are made of an alloy of seven different metals, connected to seven astrological planets, which create a range of different sounds and overtones. Those seven metals are gold as Sun, Silver as moon, Mercury as mercury, Copper as venus, Iron as mars, Tin as jupiter, Lead as saturn. Some Singing Bowls are also consists of five metals or even; combination of more and less metals, but atleast consist of two metals, because one metal doesnot sound unique and like the original singing bowls. These Bowls format, depth, color, girth and composition are variable. For the selection of one, it is believed that; one with whom, we will be touched instantly; that one belongs to the user and if not so, then accordingly with trying on, or with choice, with tones, or recommendation from the respective persons, we can select or buy it.
There are usually five basic techniques for playing the bowls: Beating, Encircling, Adding of water, Adding of toneless vowels, Spinning. Well, singing bowls sit with the bottom surface resting and the rim vibrates to produce sound characterized by a fundamental frequency (first harmonic) and usually two audible harmonic overtones (second and third harmonic). Singing Bowls are played by striking the rim with a padded or leather wrapped mallet or with naked mallet. But the pitch of sound is quite differ with them as they emphasize to get their own overtones and a continuous 'singing sound'.
Historically,
it is said that renowned masters of sound among Tibetan Lamas have used Singing Bowls in secret rituals. They have traveled out of the body through the power of sound. If you find out a real (original) singing bowls, you can use singing bowls instead of a cup of coffee to help you digest Lunch, to help you sleep, and to help you recover from illness. Tibetan Bowls are of Nepalese origin and are used by Newari People during thier ritual fire ceremony. There is a link between bowls and the Ayurvedic approach of music therapy and Ayurvedic medical care. This Bowl is also used as a dishes for pregnant women in Nepal. In this context, bowls should be used to restore the loss of minerals and metal(Iron).
Using Tibetan Singing Bowls
for healing is based on the idea - "all illness or disease is characterized by a hindrance to the flow of energy in the body. That is mainly our seven chakra of the body. Chakra; in other words is an energy. Actually our body consists of so many energy of unlimited potential, but this one is the main form of enery and other don't differs that much or we can tell, they don't affects our body completely. The seven phases with whom our 7 chakras is connected, or in simple words; gentle treatment of as follows :
1.Crown chakra- Above the Head(honors spiritual conectedness, 2. Third Eye chakra - Between middle of our eyes(honors the Psychic, 3.Throat chakra- into Neck or throat and chest(honors communication), 4.Heart chakra- The Heart(honors the heart), 5. Solar plexus Chakra- Between Breast and Abdomen(honors the life force), Splenic chakra- Abdomen (honors the creative), Root chakra-Genital(honors the earth); which is inscripted in Sanskrit as,
1.Sahasrara, 2.Ajna, 3.Vishuddha 4.Anahata 5.Manipura 6.Swadishthana 7.Muladhara
When energy flow is hindered or one of these chakras have been disturbed, the organ or tissue in question stops vibrating at a healthy frequency, thus it results in some kind of weakness or illness. The sound frequencies created by Tibetan Singing Bowls restore and optimise the flow of energy in the part of the body where this is required. [Note: Chakra or Energy are the connection between the spiritual aspects of our being and the physical. There is endocrine gland associated with 7 of the main chakra]
And if we accept that
Sound is vibration and we know that vibration touches every part of our physical being, then we understand that sound is heard not only through our ears, but also through every cell in our bodies. One reason sound heals on a physical level is because it so deeply touches and transforms us on the emotional and spiritual planes. Also, science has confirmed that music, as an organized form of sound can directly affect mood, brain waves, Nervous system, and the body chemistry. Music also plays a key role in the religious and spirituals of many cultures. Music is still applied to aid digestion, induce sleep and treat mental disturbances. At the same time, vibrations of the singing bowls stimulate the body to recreate its own harmonic frequency and help produce the alpha waves that are present in the brain in deep relaxation, dreaming, meditation and hypnosis. Simply, the vibration of the singing bowls incontact with our body makes movement of the water inside our body; which results in the delicate massages of each cell inside our body. Since, our body consist up almost 75% water.
Many people feel that they are touched and cleaned in their soul when they listened to the sound of the singing bowls. As some people describe it "Time stands still" - a feeling of peace, relief in aching parts of the body, or contact with something beyond daily life.
Chakra Balancing or energy balancing or generating brainwaves for healing:
Chakras are the connection between the spiritual aspect of our being and the physical. There is an endocrine gland associated with 7 of the main chakras as we described above. Chakra balancing is used to correct the chakra sothat endocrine gland and all the associated structures and organs effected by that gland get balanced and begin to function correctly. Actually, chakra balancing has been done in a number of ways but it has been most effectively done by someone who has capability to either feel or see both the chakras and their state of unbalance. They then use energy healing techniques to adjust and balance them.
Tibetan Singing Bowls naturally cause chakras to self-correct. The sound waves in the form of sine waves run correcting frequencies to the unbalance chakras, bringing them back to normal functioning.
The overall balancing effect of the Tibetan Singing Bowls and theta Brainwave entrainment combine to enhance and support the corrective rebalance of the sine waves effect on each chakra. The result of balanced chakras which then inturn enhance cellular and systemic healinf throughout the body that is facilitated by the Theta rhythms.
Of the five frequencies (Beta, Alpha, Theta, Delta and Gamma) that our brain experiences; the theta brainwave range is the one in which the body and mind's natural self healing processes are activated and optimised.
Theta brainwaves are present during deep relaxation, dreaming, meditation and hypnosis. Theta brainwaves can be source of creativity, intuition, increased memory and enhanced concentration. When theta brainwaves are induced by certain mental practices and specialised brain entrainment products like the healing Trance-Formations recording; they lower stress and anxiety levels, aswell as faciliate healing and growth. Theta is an important wave, not only because it faciliates the ideal mental/physiological state for healing, it also enables us to access the power and wisdom of our unconscious mind, that is normally inaccessible in more alert states.
At Last,
incase of chakra balancing, you have to find the master of sound or Singing Bowls, or Yoga Instructor related to it, because only they can do effectively; as they have capacity to either see or feel the chakras and their state of unbalance. They then use energy healing techniques with the help of singing bowls to adjust and balance them.
All images and text published in this post are my original work.
At the end, all the details and information, collected so far; are the results of my own effort for around two months research. I would like to give special thanks to my Buddhist gurus(Priest) who had helped me alot to obtain these informations, aswell as; I had got these informations also from the old and ancient books, writings and hearsay from the old people of my village. Furthermore, the writing section from scientific proven one; they are taken from the Internet. Similarly being a part of Buddhism, I am much familiar to it and had gained good knowledge and so, I believe there is no false informations provided; but I feel very bad and incomplete that I am not able to post video of playing Singing Bowls which was most obligatory and important part of this post; that was recorded with my own singing bowls naturally. I do not know why I am not able to upload the video or the eSteem have no video upload button or else. But anyway, you can go once through the Youtube's singing bowls videos which I believe, will surely amuses you all. Similarly, thanks to my pals, steemit friends, its members and team of steemit to view my Post.
Lastly,
