Nepalese ceremonial conch shell trumpet covered in silver, turquoise and coral |
A Fortunate Sound
You find yourself on a mountaintop in the Himalayas. Dawn is breaking and you are standing on a carpet of clouds at the top of the world. Suddenly, the sound of a trumpet pierces the stillness of the air. It rises to an intense crescendo; then mellows, more alive than musical. The clouds are like cotton at your feet. They are roiling and animated. The trumpet blares again. This time the sound envelopes you entirely. The clouds inexplicably part as the sun pierces the horizon. You awake with the world, bathed in the vibration of a single note.
In addition to the Ashtamangala this trumpet also features an image of Buddha |
This week’s New Arrival features a conch shell trumpet. In Tibetan Buddhism the conch shell is one of eight symbols called the Ashtamangala, also known as The Eight Auspices of Good Fortune. Look closely at the silver work covering this piece and you will find all eight symbols intricately worked into the precious metal. They cover the underlying shell, which turns to the right, a true rarity. Purse your lips and bring them to the trumpet with intention. Fill your lungs. Blow. Announce to the world you are alive; and bathe all who can hear in good fortune.