Tibetan Singing Bowls

While modern bowls are produced from either brass or some other simple alloys, the prized sounds emanate from the antique bowls which are made of Panchaloha which is Sanskrit for five metals. It is a conglomeration of bronze alloy, tin, iron, zinc and copper. These bowls are multiphonic and polyharmonic in that they can produce overtones that sound like unique instruments. Many of the antique bowls are also made up of gold, silver and nickel producing a unique warm sound. Traditional techniques that went into making the Tibetan singing bowls have been lost, and the newer bowls have a difference in quality and sound as a result.

The modern Tibetan singing bowl has seen an improvement in quality and sound as new technology works to recapture what was lost in traditional methods from antiquity. They are now part of the religious identification and description, symbols and are used in conjunction with the Tibetan mantras, Buddha images and Ashtamangala, the sacred suite of Eight Auspicious Signs that are part of many Indian religions. While the complete tonal structure hasn't been replicated in the modern Tibetan singing bowls, the new handmade bowls are still wonderful, producing multiple harmonic overtones that come very close to their ancient cousins.