Bells (Ghanta in Sanskrit and Dilbru Tibetan) are used in Tibetan Buddhism together with a ritual thunderbolt (Vajra in Sanskrit and Dorje in Tibetan). The bell representing the female principal - emptyness and wisdom, and the dorje representing the male principal - form and compasson. Bells are rung in ceremonies and meditation practice, and sometimes also sung with. They may be also kept on an altar as symbolic objects and small versions of them are worn as sacred amulets.

Dorjes come in both 5 and 9 pronged forms - the centre rod being included in the number of prongs.

In Mongolia bells like this are used by White Shamans (shamans who work with Upperworld spirits more than lower world spirits - which are worked with by Black Shamans - it has nothing to do with good and evil)

It is traditional never to polish bells, as in Buddhism the female, empty state, is concidered perfect.

Other forms of bells used in both Buddhism and Shamanism include large cymbals, and the thicker, small form of cymbal known as a tingsha. Tingshas may be in pairs or single. In Buddhism they are generally used to call spirits - called Hungry Ghosts - to come to ritual meals given as an act of compasson for them. In Mongolian and Tuvan Shamanism they are used to call to the spirit powers to come to a ceremony and for other things.

In Buddhism it is considered bad form and unhelpful to oneself or others to ring a tingsha without making a small offering to the Hungry Ghosts. A simple mantra is a suitable offering - such as 'Om Ah Hung.'

More information about the Tibetan use of bells and dorjes can be found in an article HERE.

Shamans also use other types of bells, such as Jingle Cones and Tiger Bells, both of which can be found at the bottom of the page.