Discover a world of authentic Tibetan Dharma treasures lovingly handpicked to inspire your meditation space. From unique Buddhist handcrafts to tranquil sanctuary ideas, everything you need is right here.

Dharma Shop

28 years ago, Stephen Forster, owner of Himalayan Handmades, got bitten by the wanderlust bug. He decided to travel the world and along the way, he discovered Nepal. He fell in love with the place, its people and its culture. Having crossed the Himalayas from north to south, he came across a range of hippie, bohemian clothing and Dharma items. His passion for Nepal and its people drove him to quit his day job and gave him the impetus to turn hard work and inspiration into to a booming online store. Fast forward to today and we now have a growing selection of Buddhist ritual items that we sell to retail stores worldwide.

Rest assured that all our products are ethically sourced and fairly traded. We have established close relationships with our suppliers in Nepal and hand-pick each of our products with you in mind. Our range of meditation supplies are carefully crafted by highly skilled artisans in the Kathmandu valley. We endeavour to support local family run businesses who do not exploit child labour. We source the best quality products and bring them to you at wholesale prices. Let’s take a look at what we have to offer you and how best you can utilize each one for meditation, prayer or for your own unique specific needs.

Tibetan Singing Bowls

Singing bowls are instruments used to promote healing, relaxation and aid you in meditation, your spiritual practices or yoga sessions. Traditional bowls are typically made using metal alloys but some singing bowls are made from crystal. These bowls, when played, will vibrate to produce a rich deep tone that is said to offer powerful healing properties. Religiously, they are primarily associated with Buddhist chanting and meditation. Let’s take a look at how these bowls work and what they can be used for.

How Do Singing Bowls Work?

Striking the outside rim of the bowl with a mallet emits rhythmic vibrations and tones. By continually rubbing the rim with your mallet, the friction caused keeps the sound and vibration going. The resonance is what you hear after contact between the bowl and striker has stopped. The notes you hear also differ depending on the type of material the bowl is made from and the type of mallet you use. Crystal bowls for example, will produce a different sound to metal bowls and so will padded mallets, as opposed to non-padded wooden ones. It is sound therapy that can have a long and beneficial effect on the human psyche. The vibrations produced by singing bowls are said to affect mind and body and impact brainwaves to:

• Induce relaxation
• Reduce stress and depression
• Improve sleep patterns
• Aid in pain relief
• Stimulate your immune system
• Balance and harmonise your body

Mala Beads or Prayer Beads

Mala beads or Tibetan prayer beads are another powerful instrument you can use to attain mindful meditation practices. They help you focus your attention and are used to keep count of your mantra repetitions. Traditional mala bead necklaces consist of a string of 108 beads and a guru or anchor bead. They are made from a variety of different materials that range from gemstones to wood to animal bones.. When holding your mala beads and repeating your mantra, you can achieve powerful mind, body and spiritual benefits such as:

• Enhanced self-awareness
• Increased focus during your meditation sessions
• Controlled respiration
• Replacing negative thoughts with positive ones
• They help you stick to your sense of purpose in life

Prayer Flags

Prayer flags are not just some fancy, colourful accessory you can hang up anywhere. They have a deeper meaning. Prayer flags are horizontal or vertical cloths inscribed with prayers, mantras and auspicious symbols. Lung ta are horizontal prayer flags and Darchog are vertical prayer flags. Lung ta are square or rectangular in shape and are connected along the top with thread or string. Darchog prayer flags are large single rectangles that you will commonly find attached to poles.

Their bright and beautiful colours each represent an element. Blue represents the sky, white the air, red symbolizes fire, green water, and yellow symbolizes earth. Together, all 5 colours signify balance. When blowing in the wind, they emit positive spiritual vibrations and are said to carry your prayers to get them answered. Prayer flags are traditionally used to promote wisdom, peace, compassion and strength.

Using Incense For Meditation

The burning of incense is a common practice during meditation, ceremonies or rituals. Inhaling the aromas and fragrances can induce a calming state of mind, relieve stress, promote concentration and encourage relaxation. Burning incense during meditation or religious practices can heighten your senses and uplift your spirit. They act as a doorway to spirituality and have been used by many religions worldwide for thousands of years. To create a soothing environment during meditation, there are several types of fragrances that you can use. You will read suggestions about many types but ultimately it comes down to what you feel is best suited for you, your mood and your meditation purposes. Plant-based natural sticks are a healthier option. Always remember to burn incense sticks at least two meters away from you in a well-ventilated room. Each fragrance may evoke a different sense in different individuals. Our suggestions for meditation would be:

• Sandalwood: Generates wellness & peacefulness
• Lavender: For tension relief
• Frankincense: Promotes relaxation and relieves anxiety and stress
• Sage: Is said to have purifying effects
• Myrrh: Promotes purification of the spirit.

Other Dharma Items That Express The Buddhist Religion

• Tingsha Chimes or  Tibetan Cymbals – A ritual tool used in Tibetan Buddhist prayers and ceremonies

• Offering Bowls – Used to hold ritual offerings to Gods and Goddesses

• Tibetan Bells – Widely found in Buddhist temples and used as a call to prayer.

• Prayer Wheels – A ceremonial object in the shape of a cylindrical wheel used to hold mantras.

• Deity Statues – Our selection includes, Buddha, Tara, Ganesh and more. Each carries their own power of symbolism. They will help you focus your mind on an aspect of prayer or worship.

Himalayan Handmades International stocks a variety of all the products mentioned in this blog at low wholesale prices. Our dharma store boasts over 170 hand crafted ritual items from Nepal. Shop online today and get your order delivered to your door worldwide.

Until next time - Peace, love & light