A prayer wheel (also called ‘mani wheel’) is a common device in Tibetan Buddhism, consisting of a cylindrical wheel spinning around an axis. A mantra, most often “Om Mani Padme Hum”, can be written both on the outside of the wheel and on a paper scroll inside the cylinder.
The use of prayer wheels can be traced back to 4th century CE Tibet and China. Its origin is often associated with the Indian monk and Mahayana Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna. The prayer wheel is a physical manifestation of the Buddhist concept of how Buddha set the ‘Wheel of Dharma’ in motion when delivering his first teaching.
Prayer wheels can nowadays be found in many different variations and sizes, from very large wheels and installations with many wheels on a row that can be found in and around Buddhist temples and can be set in motion by all passers-by and pilgrims to smaller hand-held devices and pendants. Most wheels are meant to be rotated manually, but also wheels powered by water, fire or wind can be found.
According to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, spinning a prayer wheel has much the same meritorious effect as orally reciting the mantra or prayer. The wheel is best rotated in a gentle and smooth rhythm (clockwise, how the mantra’s are written in the direction of the movement of the sun across the sky), meanwhile keeping a steady focus on the motivation and intent for the practice and being mindful about the inner state of compassion and bodhicitta. To increase the benefits of the practice as much as possible, one can also recite the mantra out loud or silently inwards. That being said, a prayer wheel is said to even work at times when no such mindful practice is engaged; even spinning it with a distracted mind or stroking it absently when passing-by will already accumulate benefits and merits.
This hand held Tibetan prayer wheel here in our shop is from vintage origin and, as can be seen on the pictures, shows some signs of its age and previous usage. This prayer wheel has been handmade from yakbone and Tibetan silver and is decorated with many symbolic engravings and an inlay of brass and enamel.
Sizes; approximately 20 centimeters long in total and with a weight of 141 grams.
Only one available.
