Historical information

As Buddhism spread to Tibet in the 7th century, prayer wheels became an essential attribute of Tibetan Buddhist practice. This practice is linked to teachings attributed to Nagarjuna (ca. 150 –250 CE), who emphasised the power of mantra recitation and visualisation. A prayer wheel, used for personal worship, allowed to release the spiritual power contained within the mantras, enabling practitioners, including those who could not read, to generate spiritual merit.

Significance

Prayer wheels are used by Tibetan practitioners every day, sometimes hours at a time. They believe that turning the wheel with a pure, compassionate intention releases the mantras into the universe, which purifies negative karma, accumulates merit, and radiates compassion to all living beings.

Physical description

This highly ornate prayer wheel is a fine example of the highly skilled traditional Tibetan metalworking techniques. The cylindrical drum features silver filigree and repoussé patterns, and its central band is embossed with stylised Sanskrit characters in relief, spelling out the sacred mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum”, an invocation associated with Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion. The drum is adorned with rows of inlaid coral and turquoise. A pointed silver finial is refined by delicate chasing. The long handle extending from the core is wrapped with silver structural rings, providing a good grip for a practitioner. A small, cast metal cube-shaped weight is suspended from the side of the drum by a silver chain, allowing the prayer wheel to be rotated with a slight movement of the wrist.