Skull Drum — töd-nga

Full-sized early 19th Century Tibetan human-cranium Tantric damaru. This is one of the treasures of the Aro gTér Tradition in Wales. It is engraved with scenes from the 8 Great Charnel Grounds of Ancient India. This style of ‘engraved depiction’ is an ancient tradition with regard to this type of drum. It was common during the 1st Spread of Vajrayana in Tibet — but became rare by the 17th Century. It is now almost extinct — both as a type of drum and a style of engraving.
The drum skin is python — as is the band of the drum. The drum skin is original— but the damaru band in new.
This kind of damaru is used in the practices of the Wrathful Yidams and Protectors of Vajrayana.