Chamara: the Fly Whisk

Skt., camara
Tib., rnga-yab
Jap., hossu

Traditionally made from the tail of a Yak, at least in Tibet, the fly whisk is a tantric symbolic device used to repel or drive away obstacles to enlightenment; just as one would swap away disturbing flies.

Interesting is the fact that the Indian term, chamara, has connotations of (animal) skin rather than hair; hinting at the possibility that other materials than hair have once been used.

Another form of fly whisk is apparently made from one or more feathers of a peacock, in which case it is known as chowrie though different scholars assign different meanings to this term; for example that "chowrie" is an Indian form of the Yak.