14/08/2026
Whips made with a tail from a yak. These whips are called 'chamara' and are traditionally used in Buddhist, Hinduist and Himalayan shamanic practice. The chamara has a very ancient history. Images of it can be found in the iconography of deities and royalty dating back to at least 300 AD. Its symbolism in such settings can be explained on different levels.
For example lets take a look at its association with royalty. In one way, a fan made of lightweight material such as a yak tail is simply used as a very practical fly whisk. As such it is often seen in the hands of the servants of royal people; to whisk the flies away from their faces. By association, the image of the fly whisk became an important symbol of royalty, leading to it also being held in the hands of the royal people themselves as a symbol of their status.
On yet another level, whisking the king with a chamar also is done to symbolically sweep negative thoughts and heavy emotions away from him, to assist him in keeping a tranquil mind with which he can be a better ruler for his subjects.
From here, the leap to its usage in traditional shamanic practices can of course also easily be made; also in traditional shamanism a whip is considered an indispensable attribute. It is used for many different purposes such as; purifying energyfields from people or locations, expelling evil spirits, directing the energy before or during rituals, protection and opening beneficial pathways and channels.
For different purposes, there can be different types of whips, made with for example horse hair, yak hair, leather braids, colorful cotton braids, or a mix of all the above.
These whips are made with black yak tails. Complete tails including a piece of the hide has been used. The hide-part has been carefully stretched over a wooden handle. Into the top of the wooden handle a simple metal eyelet has been attached, onto which a cord can be attached, to hang the whip on the wrist during ritual.
