It can be difficult when you can’t stop thinking. Sound helps focus your mind. Whether it be a bowl, chimes or even a shaker. They all help clear your mind and allow you to be in the present moment.
This is the base for Nada Yoga. Or meditation using sound. It can be done anywhere with a couple of nice sounding instruments. All you have to do is find 10 minutes a day.
This guide reviews 10 meditation musical instruments in India, all listed on the online shop of Five Elements, a Gurgaon-based sound healing training centre. We match each one to a style of meditation, so you can buy for how you actually sit, breathe and focus. Prices come from the product pages as of November 2026 and include courier and taxes.
Here is why that matters: the right tool for mantra chanting is not the right tool for a body scan.
At a Glance: 10 Meditation Instruments and What They Suit
| # | Instrument | Price | Best Meditation Style |
| 1 | Universal Self-Healing Bowl | ₹2,999 | Daily breath focus |
| 2 | Pangi Seed Shaker | ₹3,250 | Grounding and rhythm |
| 3 | Handcrafted Storm Drum | ₹3,500 | Visualisation |
| 4 | Knee Cut Bowl | ₹7,000 | Body scan |
| 5 | 7 Chakra Unweighted Tuning Forks | ₹7,500 | Chakra and aura meditation |
| 6 | Sargam Tuned Swinging Chimes | ₹7,500 | Nada Yoga and mantra |
| 7 | Belly Healing Bowl | ₹12,000 | Deep belly breathing |
| 8 | 7 Chakra Advance Singing Bowls Set | ₹55,000 | Long group sessions |
| 9 | 7 Chakra Full Moon Singing Bowls Set | ₹65,000 | Intention setting |
| 10 | 7 Chakra Crystal Bowl Set (Coloured) | ₹83,999 | Large sound baths |
Why Use Sound in Meditation? A Quick Look at the Evidence
What do we know so far?
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health is a research center under the United States National Institute of Health. They state that there is evidence to suggest that meditation and mindfulness can be beneficial when dealing with stress anxiety and insomnia. There is limited research available and many studies have been small or inconclusive. Meditation is generally safe for the average healthy individual. If you have a diagnosed mental illness you should consult your physician and inform your meditation instructor.
There are some studies that support the use of instruments during meditation. Researcher and sound healer Tamara Goldsby Ph.D states in her Psychology Today article that she and her group experienced decreased tension when using sound baths that incorporated singing bowls, gongs and crystal bowls. She also mentions that this is a new area of study.
Here is my take on it. Having an instrument will allow you to focus your mind and may allow you to become accustomed to meditating. They are not a cure.
The 10 Best Meditation Musical Instruments in India, by Price
1. Universal Self-Healing Bowl: Best Starter Bowl for Daily Practice
This compact bowl uses a seven-metal bronze alloy and a hand-hammered finish with a natural patina. It weighs around 400 to 500 g and comes with a rosewood striker listed among its materials. The product page lists 6, 8 and 10 inch sizes.
- Price: from ₹2,999 (check which size the price covers before you order)
- Material: seven-metal bronze
- Suits: home meditation, travel, yoga students
How to meditate with it: Strike the bowl once. Breathe in slowly and follow the tone until you can no longer hear it. Strike again on the next breath. Ten rounds make a simple, complete practice.
2. Pangi Seed Shaker: Best for Grounding Meditation
This traditional percussion piece uses dried seeds from the pangi tree. It gives a soft, earthy rattle with a natural, organic feel.
- Price: ₹3,250
- Sound: gentle, rhythmic, earthy
- Suits: root chakra meditation, walking meditation, rhythm practice
How to meditate with it: Shake at a slow, steady pace, about one shake per second. Match your footsteps or your breath to the rhythm. The repetition quiets mental chatter the same way a japa mala does during chanting.
3. Handcrafted Storm Drum: Best for Visualisation
A storm drum has a long metal spring attached to a drum body. Shake it and you hear a deep, rumbling thunder that rolls and fades.
- Price: ₹3,500
- Sound: thunder-like rumble with long decay
- Suits: guided imagery, monsoon or nature visualisations, sound baths
How to meditate with it: Close your eyes and picture dark clouds gathering. Shake the drum gently, then let the sound die out fully. Picture the clouds clearing as silence returns. Kids and teens often enjoy this one in mindfulness classes.
4. Knee Cut Bowl: Best for Body Scan Practice
This bowl has a shaped profile meant for placing near or on the knees and joints. The store describes it as a tool for joint comfort and mobility. Treat those as the seller’s claims and see a doctor for any real pain.
- Price: ₹7,000
- In the box: mallet, healing sticker
- Suits: lying-down body scans, yoga nidra, restorative yoga
How to meditate with it: Lie on your back with the bowl near your knees. Strike it softly and notice where you feel the vibration. Move your attention slowly from the feet upward, one part of the body at a time.
5. 7 Chakra Unweighted Tuning Forks: Best for Chakra Meditation
Unweighted forks ring loud and clear in the air, so you play them near the body rather than on it. This set covers seven chakra frequencies, including 194 Hz for the root and 136 Hz for the heart.
- Price: ₹7,500
- In the box: mallet, carry bag
- Suits: chakra meditation, aura work, focus before study or work
How to meditate with it: Strike the root fork and hold it a few inches from your ear. Visualise the colour of that chakra while the tone fades. Move up through all seven forks, one by one, finishing at the crown.
6. Sargam Tuned Swinging Chimes: Best for Nada Yoga and Mantra
These eight bars follow the Indian Sargam scale, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa. That makes them a natural partner for Om chanting, bhajans or swara practice.
- Price: ₹7,500
- In the box: mallet, carry bag
- Suits: Nada Yoga, mantra meditation, music therapy
How to meditate with it: Strike Sa and hum along with it on a long exhale. Then try Pa, the fifth. Holding a steady pitch against the chime trains both your voice and your focus.
7. Belly Healing Bowl: Best for Deep Breathing
This bowl comes with a carry bag, mallet and healing sticker. The store designed it for use around the abdomen and describes it as an aid for digestive comfort. Those benefits remain the seller’s claims, so please treat it as a breathing aid, not a treatment.
- Price: ₹12,000
- In the box: mallet, healing sticker, carry bag
- Suits: diaphragmatic breathing, pranayama, relaxation before sleep
How to meditate with it: Lie down with the bowl resting near your navel. Strike it and breathe deeply into your belly. You can feel the hum against the abdomen, which helps you keep the breath low and slow.
8. 7 Chakra Advance Singing Bowls Set: Best for Long Group Sessions
This set covers three octaves with seven bowls tuned to C, D, E, F, G, A and B. At 9 to 10 kg in total, it gives fuller, longer tones than smaller sets.
- Price: ₹55,000
- In the box: 2 striking mallets, 1 rimming mallet, 7 rings, carry bag
- Suits: facilitators who lead weekly meditation circles
How to meditate with it: Lay the bowls out in a half-circle from root to crown. Play each bowl for two to three minutes while participants hold their attention on the matching chakra. A full round makes a 20-minute guided session.
9. 7 Chakra Full Moon Singing Bowls Set (Manifestation Series): Best for Intention Setting
The store says it makes this series during the full moon phase using traditional Himalayan methods, and links it with the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum. It weighs 9 to 10 kg and covers the same seven notes.
- Price: ₹65,000
- In the box: bag, 2 stickers, 2 mallets
- Suits: full moon meditation, journaling rituals, intention setting
How to meditate with it: Write one clear intention on paper. Play the bowls from root to crown while you repeat the intention silently. Finish with five minutes of stillness.
10. 7 Chakra Crystal Bowl Set (Coloured): Best for Large Sound Baths
These frosted quartz bowls range from 6 to 12 inches, and each one carries a chakra colour. The set runs C to A, tuned to 432 Hz.
- Price: ₹83,999
- In the box: striking mallet, rimming mallet, 2 protective bags, silicone O-rings
- Suits: studios and events with 50 to 200 people
How to meditate with it: Rim the bowls slowly to build long, clear tones that fill a hall. The colours also give participants a visual focus point before they close their eyes. Quartz breaks more easily than metal, so store and carry it with care.
How to Start a Sound Meditation Practice at Home: 6 Steps
Ready to begin? Follow these steps.
- Pick one instrument. A single bowl or shaker is enough for the first month.
- Choose a fixed time. Early morning or just before bed works well for most people.
- Set up a quiet corner. A mat, a cushion and a phone on silent mode are all you need.
- Start with five minutes. Play, listen until the sound fades, and repeat.
- Add breath awareness. Link each strike or shake to one slow inhale and exhale.
- Increase slowly. Move to 15 or 20 minutes over a few weeks, then add a second instrument.
Which Instrument Fits Your Budget?
Next steps depend on your goals and wallet.
- Under ₹5,000: Universal Self-Healing Bowl, Pangi Seed Shaker or Storm Drum. Perfect for testing whether sound meditation suits you.
- ₹5,000 to ₹15,000: Unweighted Tuning Forks, Sargam Chimes, Knee Cut Bowl or Belly Healing Bowl. Good for regular personal practice.
- ₹50,000 and above: the Advance, Full Moon or Coloured Crystal sets. Built for teachers and studios running group sessions.
Smart Tips Before You Order Online
A little care goes a long way.
- Play the audio samples. Many product pages on the Five Elements store include sound clips. Use headphones to hear the full depth.
- Ask about sizes. Some listings, such as the Universal bowl, show several sizes under one price. Confirm which one you will receive.
- Film the unboxing. The shop requires an unboxing video for return or damage claims within seven days.
- Allow a week. Orders usually reach you in four to seven business days.
Final Thoughts
The best meditation instrument is the one that makes you want to sit down tomorrow. A ₹3,000 bowl used every morning will do more for your mind than a large set you play twice a year. Start with one sound, learn it well, and let your practice grow from there. If you want guided learning, Five Elements also runs sound healing courses and a free introductory masterclass.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which musical instrument is best for meditation at home?
A single singing bowl works well for most beginners. It is easy to play, fits in a small space and gives a long, steady tone to focus on. A seed shaker or rain-style instrument suits people who prefer rhythm over long tones.
2. Do I need musical training to use meditation instruments?
No. Bowls, shakers, storm drums and tuning forks need no musical background. You only need a gentle strike and patient listening. Sargam chimes reward some knowledge of Indian swaras, but you can still enjoy them by striking single notes slowly.
3. What is the difference between weighted and unweighted tuning forks for meditation?
Unweighted forks ring louder in the air, so you hold them near the ears during meditation. Weighted forks vibrate more strongly when placed on the body and suit hands-on sessions. For quiet personal meditation, most people prefer the unweighted type.
4. How long should I meditate with a singing bowl each day?
Start with five to ten minutes a day. Strike the bowl, follow the sound until it fades, and repeat with slow breathing. Once the habit feels steady, build up to 20 minutes. Regular short sessions usually work better than rare long ones.
5. Are crystal singing bowls better than metal bowls for meditation?
Neither is better overall. Crystal bowls give pure, bright tones that fill large rooms, so they suit group sound baths. Metal bowls give warmer, layered tones, travel well and cost less, which makes them a practical choice for daily personal meditation.
