Damaru Drum

The Damaru drum is more commonly known as a power or prayer drum, and is played to bring spiritual energy. It is especially associated with the Hindu deity Shiva, and one legend has it that Shiva gave the world its first syllabary as the sounds of the Sanskrit language arose from his drumbeats. The damaru is also used in Tibetan Buddhism in a ritual manner particularly with the trance Sadhana of the Chöd.

Played by twisting the wrist so that the wooden beads beat on the goatskin drumheads, this traditional and decorative drum sounds as good (with five minutes of practice!) as it looks, thanks to the skilled artists of Ubud in Bali, and like all the musical instruments imported by the Buddha of Plenty, it has been made specifically for us.