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"It is not impossible that objects belonging to nonhuman beings may
fall into human hands; quite a few of such marvelous objects do exist."
~ Chögyal Namkai Norbu ~
Thogchags or thokcha are generally worn by Tibetans and people of the Himalayan regions for protection and healing. Amulets can be seen in many different forms and often depict tantric deities, auspicious symbols and mantras. They can also symbolise ritual items such as a phurba or vajra for example. Others may simply be ancient arrow points, buckles, body armor or even old horse trappings. Thogchag can be made from any combination of meteorite, copper alloy and other metals. Some pre-buddhist pieces are believed to be nearly 3000 years old and may have originated from Persia. The rarest and most sought after Thokcha are believed to be made from meteoric metal known as
'Namchak', which literally means 'sky iron' or 'sky metal'.
 Thog or Thok can mean first, primordial or thunderbolt (Bellezza). The word chag or chak means iron or metal. So the name thogchag is often translated as 'thunderbolt iron'. This also supports the belief that thogchag are created from lightning strikes. In Tibetan medicine, thogchag are seen to have certain healing properties and are sometimes prescribed to heal ailments such as epilepsy and paralysis. Chögyal Namkai Norbu tells us that they were also used as supports for protector deities and astrological calculations. In some cases they are also considered to be objects belonging to three classes of nonhumans. These beings are known in Tibet as: Lha - celestial beings of the sky, gNyen - powerful beings such as deities of the land, and Lu - the naga beings of the underworld.
Ancient and older thogchag pieces are becoming increasingly difficult to find and very rare amulets are costly. We offer a selection of pieces that are believed to be ancient, antique and some are more recent creations. We are unable to authenticate their exact age and place of manufacture, however, the majority of our pieces are sourced from Tibetan traders in Tibet and the Himalayan regions of India and Nepal. We also source a small amount from private Tibetan collections.
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