Tibetan Conch Trumpet Dungkar, Unadorned

The Dungkar, the white conch, calls the monks to assembly in Tibetan monasteries and opens rituals. For this Dungkar, the tip was opened by hand in Nepal and the shell carefully polished, with no mounting and no carving. The white conch is one of the eight auspicious symbols and stands for the Buddha's teaching spreading in all directions.

It rests heavy and cool in the hand, and its sound is strong and carries far. Whether you blow it at the start of your practice or place it quietly on your home altar, it is a reminder of the sound of the teaching.

Dungkar means "white conch" in Tibetan; in Sanskrit it is called Shankha. The white conch is one of the eight auspicious symbols (Tashi Tagye) of Tibetan Buddhism. Its sound, which carries far across the land, stands for the Buddha's teaching, spreading in all directions and waking beings from the sleep of ignorance. Its pure white is seen as an image of a clear mind.

Conches whose spirals turn to the right, as they are depicted among the auspicious symbols, are especially revered. They are rare in nature, and most conch trumpets show the usual direction of turning. In Tibetan monasteries the Dungkar calls the assembly and opens rituals and ceremonies, often together with the long horns, the Dungchen.

Place your lips firmly against the opened tip, tense them slightly and blow into it as you would a trumpet, letting your lips buzz. The sound comes from the vibration of the lips, not from blowing hard. With a little practice it becomes full and steady. When you are not playing it, the Dungkar has its place on the home altar, for instance beside offering bowls and a butter lamp.

In the Tibetan tradition the conch is blown at the start of rituals, ceremonies and assemblies. On the altar it can represent the offering of sound, one of the traditional offerings to the Buddhas.

Material

conch shell

Surface

polished

Decoration

none

Mouthpiece

at the tip

Length

approx. 17 cm

Width

approx. 10 cm

Height

approx. 9.5 cm

Weight

approx. 600 g

Making

by hand in Nepal

Natural markings and shades of colour are part of the shell.
As each piece is made by hand, slight variations are possible.
We measure and weigh by hand, so the figures are approximate.

Wipe the conch with a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth. After playing, you can briefly rinse the inside with lukewarm water and leave the conch to dry with the opening facing down. Protect the shell from knocks and hard floors, as it can chip or break. As a ritual object and auspicious symbol, by Tibetan custom it does not belong on the floor but in a clean, raised place.