Prayer Wheel
19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Prayer wheels such as this contain rolls of printed mantras or prayers. The cylinder with its roll of prayers is spun on its axis by a circular hand motion, a lead weight on a chain generating a centrifugal force that keeps the cylinder spinning. Tibetans believe that when the wheel is used in this way the prayers too are set in motion and fly out to benefit all beings.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Bone, carved and engraved |
| Brief description | Prayer wheel, carved and engraved bone, Tibet, 19th century |
| Physical description | Prayer wheel of carved and engraved bone. The lid is summounted by a pointed knob; this rest on a section of the lid carved with highly stylised lotus leaves; outside of this is an engraved inscription. The prayer cylinder is engraved with an inscription, alternating with figures and chortens. The handle is turned and carved with abstract designs, a vajra and a chorten. The bone weight is carved in the form of a skull. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'Om.ma.pad.me hum' (Inscription on lid and prayer wheel. Engraved inscriptions written in Tibetan characters, prayer for long life and good fortune) |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Prayer wheels such as this contain rolls of printed mantras or prayers. The cylinder with its roll of prayers is spun on its axis by a circular hand motion, a lead weight on a chain generating a centrifugal force that keeps the cylinder spinning. Tibetans believe that when the wheel is used in this way the prayers too are set in motion and fly out to benefit all beings. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.30-1965 |
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| Record created | November 18, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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