Ritual implements from human skulls in the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and their manuals

Abstract

A proper skull cup (Tib. thod pa, ban+dha etc.; Sans. kapāla) used as an offering vessel in various Tibetan rituals should have its appropriate characteristics, as is described (in great detail) in the genre of religious craniological (phrenological) manuals called "thö tag" (Tib. thod brtags). After a philological analysis of about a dozen texts, this study presents an overview of the available material, some of its quirks, and a little bit of the context which might be helpful especially to any interested scholars outside the field of Tibetan studies.

Keywords

• ritual implements
• ritual implements
• tibetan buddhism
• human remains
• skulls
• skull cups
• offering vessels
• craniology
• phrenology
• philology