Rare Tibetan antique skull drum called a damaru (or damru). Two skulls make up the two sided drum connected in the middle. Two small beads at the end of thin cords attached in the center beat the drum when it held upright and twisted. A long silk sash (chopen) decorated with two tassels and auspicious symbols hangs from the center. The damaru is a sacred instrument adopted from the Hindu tantric practices of ancient India. The damaru is believed to be an instrument of the Lord Shiva with which he produced the spiritual sounds by which the whole universe was created and regulated. It is also considered to be part of the creation of the creation of the grammar of divine sanskrit language. Mid to Late 17th century. Size: 27" long x 4" wide x 5" wide (diameter of skull drum)