158 - TIBET - 19th century

TIBET - 19th century Rain horn, carved in the shape of a beetle’s body, topped with a polychrome papier-mâché head depicting a demon’s face, containing mustard seeds. The tip is perforated. (Wrapped in various textiles). H. 22.5 cm. On a pedestal The ritual horn (thünra) belongs to the realm of Tantric practices in Tibetan Buddhism. It is used in subjugation rites, intended to subdue hostile or disruptive forces. The instrument can be filled with seeds—particularly mustard seeds—or with various substances to which ritual tradition attributes special power. The tip was generally pierced and sealed with a stopper, allowing the practitioner to retrieve seeds needed for the ceremony. Their action is intended to complement the mantras, sacred gestures, and visualizations performed by the practitioner. During the ceremony, the officiant grasps the horn by its tip and brandishes it with rapid, precise movements, much like a weapon. The sound produced by the seeds inside accompanies the recitation of mantras and contributes to the ritual’s symbolic efficacy. The horn thus becomes an extension of the priest’s gesture: it serves to repel, contain, or subdue hostile forces. Its function can be compared to that of the phurbu. The iconography of the horn plays a full part in this function. Its decoration often features animals and creatures associated with wild or dangerous forces: makaras, snakes, insects, or amphibians. The apparent menacing nature of these depictions symbolizes not so much destruction as the mastery and transformation of obstacles. These instruments attest to the importance of tantric rites designed to protect the teachings, neutralize obstacles, and control powers considered harmful. The quality of this horn presented here is exceptional for an object that is generally quite simple. Reference: A similar horn, but with a makara head, was published in N. Bazin, *Tibetan Rituals: Secret Visions of the Fifth Dalai Lama*, RMN Paris and Éditions Findakly, 2002, p. 164, fig. 136