On top of this 13 cm steel tongue drum is a colourful mandala: rings set one inside another in ochre, brick red, turquoise and cream, with a small round motif at the centre. The base is orange and stands on three rubber feet. It weighs about 0.67 kg and was made in India.
The circle of the mandala
Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning circle. In Hindu and Buddhist tradition it is a round image with a centre, on which the viewer's attention comes to rest. On this drum, the tongues cut into the metal divide the mandala's rings into segments.
A few notes before you sit in silence
If you meditate or practise yoga, the drum makes a good signal for the start and the end of your session. Strike one tongue and listen until the sound has faded completely. Then begin.
Struck near the tip, a tongue sounds clear; near its base, duller. So you can try two different tones on the same tongue.
You can play tunes on it too. Each tongue gives a different note, and if you play them in turn around the circle, a simple, repeating melody appears.
How big is a 13 cm drum?
It is roughly the size of a saucer, small enough to hold between your two palms and to rest comfortably in your lap. You can play it with mallets or your fingers, even as a beginner.
In a sound bath it works well as a companion to a singing bowl or a chime. After the bowl's long hum, a few notes on the drum give a short, clear signal.
Clean it with a soft, dry cloth, and don't strike it with metal objects, as the paint could chip.